INDIA’S MERCHANDISE TRADE: Preliminary Data August 2021

India’s merchandise exports in August 2021 was USD 33.14 billion, an increase of 45.17% over USD 22.83 billion in August 2020 and an increase of 27.5% over USD 25.99 billion in August 2019

India’s merchandise exports in April-August 2021 was USD 163.67 billion, an increase of 66.92% over USD 98.05 billionin April-August 2020 and an increase of 22.93% over USD 133.14 billion in April-August 2019

India’s merchandise imports in August 2021 was USD 47.01 billion, an increase of 51.47% over USD 31.03 billion in August 2020 and an increase of 17.95% over USD 39.85 billion in August 2019.

India’s merchandise imports in April-August 2021 was USD 219.54 billion, an increase of 81.75%  over USD 120.79 billion in April-August 2020 and a marginal increase of 4.35% over USD 210.39 billion in April-August 2019.

The trade deficit in August 2021 was USD 13.87 billion in compared to the trade deficit of USD 8.2 billion in August 2020, while it is USD 55.9 billion during April-August 2021 as compared to USD 22.7 billion during the same period of the previous year.

Statement 1: India’s Merchandise Trade in August 2021
	Value in Billion USD			% Growth
	Aug-21	Aug-20	Aug-19	Aug-21 over Aug-20	Aug-21 over Aug-19
Exports	33.14	22.83	25.99	45.17	27.50
Imports	47.01	31.03	39.85	51.47	17.95
Deficit	13.87	8.20	13.86	69.15	0.07

 

Statement 2: India’s Merchandise Trade in Apr-Aug 2021
	Value in Billion USD			% Growth
	Apr-Aug21	Apr-Aug20	Apr-Aug19	Apr-Aug 21 over Apr-Aug 20	Apr-Aug 21 over Apr-Aug 19
Exports	163.67	98.05	133.14	66.92	22.93
Imports	219.54	120.79	210.39	81.75	4.35
Deficit	55.87	22.74	77.25	145.69	(-) 27.67

 

 

Value of non-petroleum exports in August 2021 was 28.58USD billion, registering a positive growth of 36.57% over non-petroleum exports of USD 20.93 billion in August 2020 and a positive growth of 25.44% over non-petroleum exports of USD 22.78 billion in August 2019.

Value of non-petroleum imports was USD 35.37 billion in August 2021 with a positive growth of 43.88% over non-petroleum imports of USD 24.58 billion in August 2020 and had a positive growth of 22.58% only over non-petroleum imports of USD 28.85 billion in August 2019.

Statement 3: Merchandise Non-POL Trade in August 2021
	Value in Billion USD			% Growth
	Aug21	Aug20	Aug19	Aug21 over Aug20	Aug21 over Aug19
Exports	28.58	20.93	22.78	36.57	25.44
Imports	35.37	24.58	28.85	43.88	22.58
Deficit	6.79	3.65	6.07	86.03	11.86

The cumulative value of non-petroleum exports in April-August 2021 was USD 140.6 billion, an increase of 56.96% over USD 89.58 billion in April-August 2020 and an increase of 21.92% over USD 115.33 billion in April-August 2019.

The cumulative value of non-petroleum imports in April-August 2021 was USD 164.01 billion, showing an increase of 73.22% compared to non-oil imports of USD 94.68 billion in April-August 2020 and a marginal increase of 6.31% compared to non-oil imports of USD 154.28 billion in April-August 2019.

Statement 4: Merchandise Non-POL Trade Apr-Aug 2021
	Value in Billion USD			% Growth
	Apr-Aug21	Apr-Aug20	Apr-Aug19	Apr-Aug21 over Apr-Aug20	Apr-Aug21 over Apr-Aug19
Exports	140.60	89.58	115.33	56.96	21.92
Imports	164.01	94.68	154.28	73.22	6.31

Value of non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in August 2021 was USD 25.15 billion, registering a positive growth of 31.66% over non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports of USD 19.1 billion in August 2020 and a positive growth of 28.53% over non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports of USD 19.57 billion in August 2019.

Value of non-oil, non-GJ (gold, silver & Precious metals) imports was USD 26.36 billion in August 2021 with a positive growth of 33.97%over non-oil and non-GJ imports of USD 19.68 billion in August 2020but had a marginal positivegrowth of 2.63% over non-oil and non-GJ imports of USD 25.69 billion in August 2019.

Statement 5: Merchandise Non-POL Non-GJ Trade in August 2021
	Value in Billion USD			% Growth
	Aug-21	Aug-20	Aug-19	Aug21 over Aug20	Aug21 over Aug19
Exports	25.15	19.10	19.57	31.66	28.53
Imports	26.36	19.68	25.69	33.97	2.63

The cumulative value of non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in April-August 2021 was USD 124.55 billion, an increase of 49.0% over cumulative value of non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports of USD 83.59 billion in April-August 2020 and an increase of 24.99% over cumulative value of non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports of USD 99.65 billion in April-August 2019.

Non-oil, non-GJ (Gold, Silver & Precious Metals) imports was USD 132.94 billion in April-August 2021, recording a positive growth of 57.04%, as compared to non-oil and non-GJ imports of USD 84.66 billion in April-August 2020 and a marginal positive growth of 3.32% over USD 128.67 billion in April-August 2019.

Statement 6: Merchandise Non-POL Non-GJ Trade Apr-Aug 2021
	Value in Billion USD			% Growth
	Apr-Aug21	Apr-Aug20	Apr-Aug19	Apr-Aug21 over Apr-Aug20	Apr-Aug21 over Apr-Aug19
Exports	124.55	83.59	99.65	49.00	24.99
Imports	132.94	84.66	128.67	57.04	3.32

Top 10 major commodity groups, covering more than 80% of total exports, have shown positive growth in August 2021 over corresponding month of previous year, as stated below.

Statement 7: Exports of Top 10 Major Commodity Groups
	Value of Export (Million US$)		Share (%)	Growth (%)
Major Commodity Group	Aug'21	Aug'20	Aug'21	Aug '21 over Aug '20
Engineering Goods	9631.50	6065.65	29.06	58.79
Petroleum Products	4559.82	1901.64	13.76	139.78
Gems And Jewellery	3428.07	1823.09	10.34	88.04
Organic And Inorganic Chemicals	2230.15	1642.82	6.73	35.75
Drugs And Pharmaceuticals	2001.78	1977.76	6.04	1.21
Cotton Yarn/Fabrics/Madeups, Handloom Products Etc.	1297.82	833.95	3.92	55.62
RMG Of All Textiles	1235.11	1083.53	3.73	13.99
Electronic Goods	1146.63	872.04	3.46	31.49
Plastic And Linoleum	753.30	648.49	2.27	16.16
Rice	715.24	671.08	2.16	6.58
Total of 10 Major Commodity Groups	26999.42	17520.05	81.47	54.11
Rest	6141.16	5309.23	18.53	15.67
Total Exports	33140.58	22829.29	100.00	45.17

Top 10 major commodity groups, covering more than 80% of total imports, have shown below.

Statement 8: Imports of Top 10 Major Commodity Groups
	Import (Million US$)		Share (%)	Growth (%)
Major Commodity Group	Aug.'21	Aug.'20	Aug.'21	Aug.'21 over Aug.'20
Petroleum, Crude & products	11637.86	6451.91	24.76	80.38
Gold	6746.88	3702.53	14.35	82.22
Electronic goods	5910.44	4720.09	12.57	25.22
Machinery, electrical & non-electrical	2914.75	2020.92	6.20	44.23
Pearls, precious & Semi-precious stones	2243.51	1163.26	4.77	92.86
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals	2066.48	1469.05	4.40	40.67
Coal, Coke & Briquettes, etc.	1936.40	1084.77	4.12	78.51
Artificial resins, plastic materials, etc.	1365.19	849.61	2.90	60.69
Iron & Steel	1333.57	640.23	2.84	108.30
Vegetable Oil	1322.01	888.65	2.81	48.77
Total of 10 Major Commodity Groups	37477.09	22991.03	79.73	63.01
Rest	9529.42	8042.98	20.27	18.48
Total Imports	47006.51	31034.01	100.00	51.47

 

Merchandise trade growth signals widening trade deficit as imports outpace exports, driven by strong commodity import demand. India's merchandise exports and imports recorded strong year on year increases in August 2021 and in April-August 2021, with imports growing faster than exports and thereby widening the trade deficit; non petroleum and non petroleum/non GJ exports rose substantially, while major commodity groups on both export and import sides drove the overall expansion.