India imports more than it exports.
Its trade deficit, in March 2019, stood at USD 10.89 billion, still -- even with all the hullabaloo of Make in India campaign -- occupying the place of one of the country's biggest economic challenges.
Talking about import, India needs crude oil the most. In 2014, oil made up for 38.3 percent of its total import. It relies on countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and a few African countries for the commodity.
(Courtesy: Bloomberg Quint)
Next on the list of major imports of India includes metals (like Aluminum), electronic products (like Smartphones), machine, engines, organic chemicals, plastics, iron, and steel.
Coming to export, India is one of the foremost destinations to many countries for refined petroleum. It includes products like kerosene, gasoline, and more.
Other major exports of India includes metals, coins, vehicles, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cereals, iron and steel, and clothing.
India's biggest trading partner is the United States, where India enjoys the biggest surplus. (USD 19 billion).
(Courtesy: Business Standard)
Other big trading partners of India are
• UAE
• China
• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• Bangladesh
• Netherlands
Trade with China brings India its biggest deficit. (USD 57.3 billion)
(Courtesy: Frontera)
Narrowing the gap between import and export can be one of the game-changers for the Indian economy. But again, it's easier said than done that requires more than just a blanket dream of turning the country into a manufacturing hub. Indeed, China turned the table for its economy in the past 3 decades by investing extensively in manufacturing. However, at the same time, the country also invested extensively in its social and political infrastructure, as well as technology. And that's what India needs now. Sadly, this government or that, improving deficit doesn’t necessarily seem to be on their priority list.
(Courtesy: The Indian Express)
In 2017-18, India's trade deficit almost doubled vs. the previous year…