India's Imports from BRICS Nations Soar, Widening Trade Deficit

Central Message (CNA reporter Li Chin-wei, New Delhi, 18th) India's trade volume with the BRICS countries has grown rapidly over the past five years, with imports nearly doubling, leading to a rapid expansion of the trade deficit. This indicates that India's dependence on imported goods from BRICS countries is increasing significantly. The Times of India pointed out that India's trade with BRICS countries grew by almost 10% annually between 2021 and 2025, estimated to reach $416 billion (approximately NT$13.15 trillion) in 2025. However, the trade deficit with BRICS countries has also nearly doubled, climbing from $117 billion (approximately NT$3.69 trillion) to $224 billion (approximately NT$7.08 trillion). The main reason for this phenomenon is the sharp growth in India's imports from BRICS countries, estimated to reach $320 billion (approximately NT$10.12 trillion) in 2025. The proportion of India's imported goods from BRICS countries also rose from 36% in 2021 to 43% in 2025. Among the BRICS countries, India's trade with Russia has grown the fastest, mainly due to India's large imports of crude oil from Russia. In contrast, India's exports to BRICS countries in 2025 are projected to be only $96 billion (approximately NT$3.03 trillion); the proportion of Indian exports to BRICS countries is only 22%. Among India's exports to BRICS countries, the fastest growth is with the United Arab Emirates, with export value to the country growing by 11%. The gap between imports and exports has exacerbated India's trade deficit with several BRICS members. In 2025, India will have a trade deficit with China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. For India, the largest trade deficit is still with China, exceeding $100 billion (approximately NT$3.16 trillion), with Russia ranking second with a deficit of $55 billion (approximately NT$1.73 trillion). The BRICS countries are currently a powerful force in global trade, with a total export value of $6.1 trillion (approximately NT$192.76 trillion) and a total import value of $4.9 trillion (approximately NT$154.84 trillion) in 2025. Between 2021 and 2025, BRICS countries accounted for about 25% of global exports and about 20% of global imports. Currently, the BRICS population accounts for about 49.5% of the world's total population, and 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade come from BRICS countries. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150518 Stand with the facts, every contribution you make is a force for protecting press freedom. Download the CNA "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news in real time. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.