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Trade between India and the United Kingdom

In 2024, India exported $15.3 billion to the United Kingdom and imported $5.8 billion. India ran a surplus of $9.5 billion with the United Kingdom, compared with a surplus of $3.3 billion in 2019. The United Kingdom was India’s 13th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and India was the United Kingdom’s 13th (2%).

Summary

India → United Kingdom
$15.3billion
United Kingdom → India
$5.8billion
India’s balance
$9.5billion

Balance

India’s trade balance with the United Kingdom

Trade between India and the United Kingdom grew 4.7-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). India’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 15.3
  • Imports 5.8
  • Balance +9.5

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$2.5 billion$2 billion$480 million
1996$2.6 billion$2.3 billion$358 million
1997$2.8 billion$2.7 billion$185 million
1998$2.6 billion$2.7 billion-$95 million
1999$2.5 billion$2.8 billion-$324 million
2000$3 billion$3.7 billion-$627 million
2001$3.1 billion$2.9 billion$230 million
2002$3.2 billion$2.9 billion$315 million
2003$3.8 billion$3.2 billion$625 million
2004$4.8 billion$3.6 billion$1.3 billion
2005$5.9 billion$5 billion$846 million
2006$6.9 billion$4.3 billion$2.6 billion
2007$8.3 billion$5.1 billion$3.2 billion
2008$8.9 billion$6.5 billion$2.5 billion
2009$8 billion$4.3 billion$3.7 billion
2010$9.5 billion$5.5 billion$4 billion
2011$11.1 billion$7.4 billion$3.7 billion
2012$9.5 billion$6.6 billion$2.9 billion
2013$10 billion$6.6 billion$3.4 billion
2014$10.9 billion$5.9 billion$5 billion
2015$9.6 billion$5.5 billion$4 billion
2016$8.9 billion$4.1 billion$4.8 billion
2017$9.4 billion$4.8 billion$4.6 billion
2018$10.2 billion$6.9 billion$3.3 billion
2019$10.1 billion$6.9 billion$3.3 billion
2020$7.9 billion$4.7 billion$3.2 billion
2021$11.4 billion$6.1 billion$5.4 billion
2022$14.5 billion$6.5 billion$8 billion
2023$14.4 billion$7.7 billion$6.7 billion
2024$15.3 billion$5.8 billion$9.5 billion

What they sell each other

What India sells to the United Kingdom

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Cameras and broadcast equipment$2.1 billion · 13.6%
    2 thousand tonnes
  2. Refined petroleum$1.9 billion · 12.2%
    2.3 million tonnes · India’s destinations
  3. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$893 million · 5.8%
    29 thousand tonnes · India’s destinations
  4. Jewelry$431 million · 2.8%
    42 tonnes · India’s destinations
  5. Nitrogen heterocyclic compounds$356 million · 2.3%
    12 thousand tonnes
  6. Women's suits and dresses$291 million · 1.9%
    8 thousand tonnes
  7. Leather footwear$282 million · 1.8%
    8 thousand tonnes
  8. Parts for cranes and excavators$247 million · 1.6%
    100 thousand tonnes
  9. Transformers and power supplies$231 million · 1.5%
    29 thousand tonnes
  10. Diamonds$225 million · 1.5%
    India’s destinations

What the United Kingdom sells to India

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Ferrous scrap$472 million · 8.1%
    929 thousand tonnes · the United Kingdom’s destinations
  2. Spirits$407 million · 7%
    77 thousand tonnes
  3. Silver$398 million · 6.8%
    2 thousand tonnes · India’s sources
  4. Aluminum scrap$317 million · 5.4%
    178 thousand tonnes
  5. Copper scrap$167 million · 2.9%
    38 thousand tonnes
  6. Turbojets and gas turbines$155 million · 2.7%
    150 tonnes · the United Kingdom’s destinations
  7. Waste paper$152 million · 2.6%
    887 thousand tonnes
  8. Auto parts$107 million · 1.8%
    4 thousand tonnes · the United Kingdom’s destinations
  9. Valves and taps$105 million · 1.8%
    1 thousand tonnes
  10. Physical and chemical analysis instruments$86 million · 1.5%
    202 tonnes

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) to Felixstowe.

The estimated sea route between Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) and Felixstowe is 10,957 nautical miles (20,293 km) long: ≈ 25.5–32.5 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

Because of the 2024 disruptions, traffic is split: 85% via the Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Dover (10,957 nautical miles); and 15% via the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Strait of Dover (6,518 nautical miles).

Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.

Split by transport mode

  1. Sea$14.5 billion · 68.7%
  2. Air$6.6 billion · 31.3%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

The United Kingdom was India’s 13th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and India was the United Kingdom’s 13th (2%).

The United Kingdom in India’s trade
1.8%
The United Kingdom’s rank among India’s partners
13th
India in the United Kingdom’s trade
1.9%
India’s rank among the United Kingdom’s partners
13th

Compare with

Other partners of India

Other partners of the United Kingdom

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.