India was the EU's 9th largest partner for imports (2% of total extra-EU imports) and also the 9th largest for EU exports (2% of total extra-EU exports) in 2018.
The EU ran a trade surplus with India (meaning that it exported more than it imported) from 2008 to 2012. This trade surplus turned into a deficit in 2013 and continued until 2017, when it reached €2.4 billion. In 2018, the deficit decreased to €0.1 billion.
EU exports to India were dominated by "machinery and vehicles", "chemicals" and "other manufactured products", which together accounted for 89% of EU exports to India. These categories also dominated imports, making up 83% of EU imports from India. At a more detailed level, "pearls and (semi-) precious stones” were the EU’s most exported product to India, while the most imported product from India were “petroleum oils other than crude”.
United Kingdom and Germany: main traders with India among the Member States
Among the Member States, the United Kingdom was the largest importer of goods from India (€8 billion). The largest exporter to India in 2018 was Germany (€13 billion).
For further information:
- Statistics Explained article India-EU international trade in goods statistics
- Overview of statistics on international trade in goods
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