China is emerging as a major export market for India, with shipments rising 33 per cent to USD 12.22 billion during April-November of the current fiscal, according to commerce ministry data. The surge marks the highest level of exports to China in the past four years and reverses last year’s decline. The increase is being driven by a range of products, including oil meals, marine products, telecom instruments, spices, aluminium, and refined copper billets, indicating a broad-based expansion rather than growth concentrated in a single sector.

In the electronics segment, significant gains were recorded in populated printed circuit boards (rising from USD 23.9 million to USD 922.4 million), flat panel display modules, and other electrical apparatus for telephony. Agricultural and marine exports included dried chilies, black tiger shrimp, Vannamei shrimp, green gram, and oil-cake residues.

Commerce officials said the data reflects a structural shift in bilateral trade. “This spread across electronic goods, agriculture, and base metals indicates that the export surge is not narrowly concentrated but reflects a broader structural expansion of India's exports to China,” an official noted.

Industry sources said high tariffs in the US are prompting Indian exporters to explore alternative markets, including China, where goods can be shipped more competitively.

During April-November 2024-25, India exported USD 9.2 billion worth of goods to China, following USD 9.89 billion in 2022-23 and USD 10.28 billion in 2023-24. Analysts say the current growth trend underscores China’s rising importance as a strategic trading partner for India.