In 2020, India was the eleventh largest partner for EU exports of goods (1.7% of total extra-EU exports) and also the eleventh largest partner for EU imports of goods (1.9% of total extra-EU imports).
Source dataset: EXT_LT_MAINEU
Last year, EU-India trade was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, EU exports to India amounted to €32.2 billion and imports to €33.0 billion, down by 16% and 17% respectively compared with 2019, resulting in a trade deficit of €0.9 billion. Although the trade balance improved compared with 2019 (a deficit of €1.4 billion), it did not return to the levels of 2010 to 2018 when EU trade balance with India recorded a surplus.
EU exports to India in 2020 were dominated by ‘machinery and vehicles’, ‘chemicals’ and ‘other manufactured products’, which together accounted for 86% of EU exports to India. These categories also dominated imports, making up 86% of EU imports from India. At a more detailed level, the largest three sub-categories in imports from India were ‘organic chemicals’, ‘clothing’ and ‘iron and steel’. In exports to India, the three largest sub-categories were ‘other transport equipment’, ‘non-metallic minerals’ and ‘other industrial machinery and equipment’.
Source dataset: DS-018995
Germany: main trade partner with India
Among the EU Member States, the largest extra-EU importer of goods from India in 2020 was Germany (€7.0 billion), followed by Italy (€4.2 billion), the Netherlands, France and Belgium (all around €3.9 billion). Germany was also the largest extra-EU exporter of goods to India (€10.7 billion), followed by France (€5.7 billion), Belgium (€4.5 billion) and Italy (€3.0 billion).
We are publishing this information to mark the EU – India summit, which takes place today.
For more information:
- Statistics Explained article India-EU international trade in goods statistics (last updated in March 2021)
- Overview of statistics on international trade in goods
- Database of statistics on international trade in goods
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