India is projected to contribute 6% to the growth of global trade over the next five years, positioning itself as a significant player alongside global giants like China and the United States.
This insight comes from the "DHL Trade Atlas 2025" report, jointly produced by New York University's Stern School of Business and DHL, highlighting India's strengthening position in the international trade landscape.
The report suggests that while China is expected to lead global trade growth with a 12% contribution, followed by the United States at 10%, India's share of 6% is notable.
The South Asian nation is forecast to maintain its third position on the scale dimension and improve its ranking to 17th on the speed dimension, a significant leap from its current position of 32nd.
The "scale dimension" reflects the absolute growth in trade volume, while the "speed dimension" assesses the rate of growth.
India's trade growth has been remarkable in recent years, with its total trade exports rising by 3.16% in February 2025 compared to the same period last year. In 2024, India ranked as the 13th largest participant in global trade, achieving an annual compound growth rate of 5.2% since 2019.
The nation's total exports, including goods and services, amounted to $71.95 billion in February 2025, up from $69.74 billion in February 2024. Meanwhile, imports saw a decline, falling by 11.33% to $67.52 billion in February 2025 from $76.15 billion in the same month of the previous year.
India's major export destinations include the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and China. On the other hand, its key import sources are China, Russia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
The nation primarily exports petroleum products, medical drugs, telecom instruments, pearls, and electric machinery. At the same time, it imports petroleum crude, gold, electronic components, coal, and coke.
The DHL Trade Atlas report anticipates India's absolute trade volume growth to reach $484 billion between 2024 and 2029. This growth is seen as a testament to India's evolving role as a crucial hub connecting the East and the West in global trade dynamics.
R S Subramanian, Senior Vice President for South Asia at DHL Express, expressed cautious optimism about India's trade growth, considering the global economic volatility.
He highlighted that while India's trade volume is expected to expand, the nation must navigate potential uncertainties in the international market.
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