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In Charts: India’s Foreign Trade In 2018

Foreign trade had a tumultuous 2018 due to fluctuating rupee and oil prices. These charts show how it fared...

Ship-to-shore cranes stand alongside the Al Dahna container ship at the Port of Hamburg in Hamburg, Germany (Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg)  
Ship-to-shore cranes stand alongside the Al Dahna container ship at the Port of Hamburg in Hamburg, Germany (Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg)  

India’s trade deficit—the gap between imports and exports—narrowed to its lowest in 10 months at $13 billion in December. But that doesn’t capture the volatility seen in the trade gap on account of fluctuations in oil prices and currency.

Even the government had to step in to impose curbs on certain imports to rein in the current account deficit, which is linked to the trade gap.

In Charts: India’s Foreign Trade In 2018

Oil continued to be the biggest burden on India’s import bill. Imports of electronic items were the second-highest by value. Outbound shipments of gems & jewellery, drugs & pharmaceuticals, chemicals and engineering goods—that make up more than half of India’s exports—grew in 2018.

The trade deficit will depend on the nature of international oil prices, according to Anand Rathi Financial Services Ltd. “On the contrary, a rise in shale oil production in the U.S. will act as a counter balance to price. We think that oil prices will rise but not very significantly,” it said in a recent report.

Here’s India’s trade in 2018 in charts

Export Vs Import Growth

India’s trade deficit swelled to a five-year high at $18 billion in July. Since then, it has contracted and ended the year at $13 billion. That was largely because imports entered the negative territory due to lower oil prices.

In Charts: India’s Foreign Trade In 2018

Major Imports: Gold And Oil

From a 93 percent rise in August, gold imports contracted 16 percent in November and 24 percent in December. That has contributed significantly to the overall leaner trade deficit. Oil imports, too, had ended lower than where they were at the start of 2018.

In Charts: India’s Foreign Trade In 2018

Non-Oil, Non-Gold Imports

Imports, excluding oil and gold, have also been on the decline since November. However, before that since May 2018, their growth had been in the positive territory.

In Charts: India’s Foreign Trade In 2018

Export Trends

While exports of engineering goods were most in December, that of electronic goods saw the highest growth.

In Charts: India’s Foreign Trade In 2018

Import Trends

Oil is the most imported item in India by value. However, growth in imports was the highest for fertilisers as imports nearly doubled over last year.

In Charts: India’s Foreign Trade In 2018