Page 7 - India Imports

Iraq closes gap with Russian oil in FY24 as Moscow's discounts shrink

Tightening of US sanctions on Russian shipping coupled with reduced availability of Russian oil due to its participation in the OPEC+ grouping's production cuts has hurt discounts to Indian refiners

Australia to grow more yellow chana after India removes 40% import duty

The removal of 40% import duty on desi chana by India will incentivise Australian farmers to increase both the acreage and production of Bengal gram for export to India

India's oil import bill could swell to $101-104 billion in FY25: ICRA

India's net oil import bill could widen to USD 101-104 billion in current fiscal from USD 96.1 billion in 2023-24 and any escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict could impart an upward pressure on the value of imports, ICRA said on Tuesday. The domestic rating agency said based on its analysis, lower value of Russian oil imports is estimated to have led to savings of USD 7.9 billion in 11 months (April-February) of 2023-24, up from USD 5.1 billion in 2022-23. "With India's oil import dependency expected to remain high, if the discounts on purchases of Russian crude persist at the prevailing low levels, ICRA expects India's net oil import bill to widen to USD 101-104 billion in FY2025 from USD 96.1 billion in FY2024, assuming an average crude oil price of USD 85/bbl in the fiscal," ICRA said. Additionally, any escalation in the IranIsrael conflict and an associated rise in crude oil prices could impart an upward pressure on the value of net oil imports in the current fiscal year, it .

Export figures for FY04, FY14, and FY24 show interesting trends

A look at the destination of our exports shows that our shipments to our neighbours in South Asia at 5.8 per cent have stagnated in the past 10 years

China's share in industrial goods imports jump to 30% from 21%: GTRI

With increasing India's dependence on Chinese industrial goods like telecom, machinery and electronics, Beijing's share in New Delhi's imports of such goods rose to 30 per cent from 21 per cent in the last 15 years, a report said. According to the report by the economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), the growing trade deficit with China is a cause of concern, and the strategic implications of this dependency are profound, affecting not only economic but also national security dimensions. From 2019 to 2024, India's exports to China have stagnated at around USD 16 billion annually, while imports from China have surged from USD 70.3 billion in 2018-19 to over USD 101 billion in 2023-24, resulting in a cumulative trade deficit exceeding USD 387 billion over five years. The Indian government and industries must evaluate and potentially recalibrate their import strategies, fostering more diversified and resilient supply chains, GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said. This

SEZ units exempt from IGST on certain services from DTA players: AAR ruling

AAR observed that this clarification was given to a specific SEZ unit and is not a circular but there is no bar in borrowing the rationale of the clarification

The increasing profitability of apiculture

Interestingly, while India's honey output has increased since 2005-06 by nearly 240 per cent, exports have bounced by over 260 per cent

Tesla begins making cars in Germany for export to India this year

Under the new Indian policy, companies can import up to 8,000 cars a year at the lower tax rate

Rising imports, demand slowdown ahead of polls weigh on Indian steelmakers

Imports from China have surged 88 per cent in the April to February period of the current financial year, which has "majorly impacted" domestic steel

Here's how the US lobbied India to reverse laptop licensing policy

US officials have often been concerned about India's sudden policy changes which they say create an uncertain business environment

Significant ramp up in capacities to help achieve $40 bn exports target

Steps such as significant ramp up in production capacities, and skilling of workforce will help achieve USD 40 billion garment exports target by 2030, AEPC said on Tuesday. Apparel Export Promotion Council of India (AEPC) Chairman Sudhir Sekhri said skilled workers like tailors and quality checkers are still not sufficient as during the peak season they go to their native villages thereby creating shortage. "Our target to reach USD 40 billion of RMG (readymade garments) export by 2030 can be a reality and my duty is to take every possible step to reach this target," Sekhri said. He said "we need to ramp up our capacities as the export houses in India are still unable to handle core/basic products which are required in huge quantities". He added that the council is also focused on skilling the workforce. "We are creating about 150,000 skilled workers every year but it is still not enough. To attain the growth that we are targeting, we need to empower our workforce with skills," he

Despite shrinking discounts, Russian crude flow to India may continue

Russia's share of Indian crude imports rose to 32 percent in February after recent dips

India, four-nation EFTA set to sign free trade agreement on Sunday

India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA will sign a free trade agreement on Sunday with an aim to boost two-way trade in goods, services and investments, an official said. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The pact received approval from the Union Cabinet on March 7, the official said. India and EFTA have been negotiating the pact, officially dubbed as Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), since January 2008 to boost economic ties. The agreement has 14 chapters, including trade in goods, rules of origin, intellectual property rights (IPRs), trade in services, investment promotion and cooperation, government procurement, technical barriers to trade, and trade facilitation. EFTA has 29 free trade agreements (FTAs) with 40 partner countries, including Canada, Chile, China, Mexico, and Korea. Under free trade pacts, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum

Europe's higher defence expenditure may hit exports

To find more resources to fund higher defence expenditure, Europe may have to raise taxes or cut government spending on welfare and other development activities

New US sanctions may curb Indian imports of Russian coal, say traders

The latest US sanctions also include Russia's payment system, financial institutions and energy production

Govt should talk more on its steps to protect farmer interests

The WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) was one of the many agreements that were negotiated during the Uruguay Round and the option available was to accept all the agreements or none

India to sign billion dollar deal to extend LNG imports from Qatar

India is likely to sign on Tuesday a multi-billion dollar deal to extend LNG imports from Qatar till 2048 at rates that are lower than current prices, sources said. Petronet LNG Ltd will sign the deal with QatarEnergy to extend import of 7.5 million tonne a year on sidelines of India Energy Week here. Sources said the price will be "significantly' lower than current price. Petronet currently imports 8.5 million tonne a year of LNG from Qatar under two contracts. The first 25-year deal is to expire in 2028 and is now being extended for 20 additional years. The second deal for 1 million tonne a year entered into in 2015, will be negotiated separately, sources said. India, the world's third biggest energy consumer, sees natural gas as a transition fuel for migrating to net zero carbon emissions by 2070. As part of this, the government is targeting to raise the share of natural gas in the country's energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030 from 6.3 per cent now. Sources said the current deal

No immediate impact of US decision to pause LNG export permits: Officials

Officials however said major LNG routes into India do not cross the main maritime area affe ted Houthi strikes in and around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

AstraZeneca to import critical drugs to India, focus on cancer therapies

AstraZeneca is currently conducting 50 clinical trials in India

Red Sea route accounts for 50% country's exports, 30% of imports: Report

The impact of the ongoing crisis around the Red Sea shipping route, which accounts for 50 per cent of the country's exports and 30 per cent of imports last fiscal, will vary depending on the industry, according to a report. The crisis in the Red Sea shipping route began after Yemen-based Houthi rebels launched frequent attacks on commercial shipping vessels plying through the route in November as a fallout of the Israeli-Palestinian war, which started in early October 2023. Currently, the US and British forces are also engaged in counter-attacks on the militants. Domestic companies use the Red Sea route through the Suez Canal to trade with Europe, North America, North Africa and part of the Middle East. Last fiscal, these regions accounted for 50 per cent of the country's exports worth Rs 18 lakh crore and 30 per cent of imports worth Rs 17 lakh crore. The country's overall merchandise trade was Rs 94 lakh crore last fiscal, with 68 per cent in value and 95 per cent in volume being