What Does India Export To The UK? Top Export Products

India and the UK enjoy a great relationship and have been strong and reliable trade partners over the years. India exports a number of goods and services to the UK and, in return, imports a great deal as well, but has always maintained a trade surplus. 

A large number of India's exports to the UK include engineering goods, textiles and clothing, electronics, gems and jewellery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agricultural goods, marine products, leather products, and other items. 

The recent breakthrough deal, in which India and the UK signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a free trade agreement, has further given a significant boost to trade between the two countries. 

Let's have a detailed look at the trade statistics between the two countries and study the major product exports from India to the UK in detail:

India- UK trade statistics:

As per the latest reports published by the government of the UK, the total trade between the two countries stood at £47.2 billion for the period between July 2024 and June 2025. Of this total trade, India’s exports to the UK were £28.4 billion against the UK’s export of £18.8 billion to India. 

Recent reports from the PIB suggest that overall trade has reached USD 56 billion, and both countries aim to double this figure by the end of 2030. The recently signed CETA will play a key role in achieving this, but we’ll cover it later. 

Major Exports From India To the UK

Textiles and Apparel

• India’s total textile exports globally: USD 36.71 billion

• Textile exports from India to the UK: USD 1.79 billion

• Indicates strong growth potential in the UK market

• Key export items include:

  • Home textiles

  • Technical textiles

  • Ready-made garments (T-shirts, kidswear)

  • Various types of fabrics

    
    

Engineering Goods

• The UK is India’s 6th largest export market for engineering goods

• UK’s total engineering imports: USD 193.52 billion

• India’s share in UK engineering imports: USD 4.28 billion. Highlights a significant untapped market opportunity.

• Major export items include:

  • Machinery and equipment

  • Electrical and electronic goods

  • Auto components and vehicles

  • Iron, steel, and metal products

  • Industrial plastics and rubber goods

    
    

Chemicals

• UK’s total chemical imports (2024–25): USD 35.11 billion

• Chemical imports from India: USD 570.32 million

• Key chemical exports include:

  • Organic chemicals

  • Agrochemicals

  • Cosmetics and toiletries

  • Essential oils

  • Specialty chemicals

  • Petrochemicals

Pharmaceuticals

• India ranks 3rd globally in pharmaceutical production by volume

• India’s total pharma exports: USD 23.31 billion

• Pharma exports to the UK: Less than USD 1 billion

• UK pharma market projected to reach USD 73 billion by 2033

• Key pharma exports include:

  • APIs and bulk drugs

  • Drug formulations (tablets, syrups, injections)

  • Biologicals (vaccines, blood fractions)

  • Generic drug formulations

    
    

Gems and Jewellery

• Total India–UK gems and jewellery trade (2024): USD 3.6 billion

• India’s exports to the UK: USD 941 million

• UK’s exports to India: USD 2.7 billion

• Currently indicates a trade deficit for India, but growth is expected post-CETA implementation

• Key export items include:

  • Cut and polished diamonds

  • Gold jewellery

  • Worked precious and semi-precious stones

• Emerging opportunities:

  • Platinum and silver jewellery

  • Lab-grown diamonds

  • Coloured gemstones

    
    

Marine Products

• UK’s marine products import market: USD 5.4 billion

• India’s share in UK marine imports: 2.25%. Indicates strong scope for expansion

• Major exports include:

  • Frozen shrimp

  • Frozen squid

  • Lobsters

  • Frozen pomfret

    
    

Leather and Footwear Products

• India’s global leather & footwear exports: Over USD 5 billion

• Exports to the UK: Approx. USD 440 million

• UK import market size: USD 85 billion

• Key export items include:

  • Leather-soled footwear

  • Sports footwear

  • Leather-upper footwear with rubber/plastic soles

  • Handbags, wallets, and purses

  • Saddlery and harness

  • Apparel, accessories, and artisanal products

    
    

Agricultural Products

• UK’s agricultural imports: USD 37.52 billion

• India’s agricultural exports to the UK: USD 811 million

• Expected growth: 20% over the next three years

• Key export items include:

  • Cereals

  • Spices and spice mixes

  • Fresh fruits and vegetables

  • Fruit pulp

  • Ready-to-eat and processed foods

    
    

Mineral Fuels, Oils, and Distillation Products

• India’s exports to the UK (2024): USD 1.92 billion

• Refined petroleum forms the major share of exports in this category

Other Categories

Apart from the above-mentioned categories, India also exports the following goods and services to the UK:

• Plastics:

  • Sacks and bags

  • Optical fibres and cables

  • Tableware and kitchenware

  • Pipes and packaging materials

• Toys

• Sports Goods:

  • Soccer balls

  • Cricket gear

  • Rugby balls

  • Sports footwear

• Service Sector:

  • IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS)

  • Business consulting

  • Financial services

  • Healthcare

  • Education

How The CETA Is Going To Help In The Above Important Sectors

The FTA,i.e, CETA, signed between India and the UK, is set to benefit India largely. Let's look at it in detail.

• The textile and apparel sector will benefit from the import duty of 12% being waived off, helping important segments like ready-made garments and home textiles

• Removal of 18% tariffs on key engineering goods segments like machinery, auto parts, and industrial equipment, leading to double engineering exports to the UK.

• 30-40% increase in chemical exports to the UK with tariff elimination across key segments, including agrochemicals and organic chemicals.
  

• In the Pharma sector, several medical devices will go duty-free and boost the competitiveness of Indian pharma products. 
  

• The gems and jewellery exports are set to double within three years, owing to a complete duty waiver, which earlier stood at 4%.
  

• Import duty for marine products, which earlier stood at 21.5%, has now become duty-free, thereby benefiting the livelihoods in the coastal regions of India.
  

• A large range of agricultural items has become duty-free, and a growth of 20% in the next three years is projected.
  

•   The leather and footwear sector exports to the UK are projected to reach close to one billion USD as import duties in the sector are reduced from 16% to 0.

Conclusion:

The India-UK trade relationship has grown steadily over the years, and the recent implementation of the Free Trade Agreement has further opened up and strengthened export opportunities between the two countries. 

With reduced duties, easier market access, and clearer trade frameworks, businesses in the UK now have more reasons to source products from India.

India continues to be a reliable export partner, offering a wide range of goods across agriculture, spices, textiles, engineering products, and industrial supplies. 

Ashadhan is a specialised import-export company that helps businesses source and import products from India to different countries. By working closely with verified suppliers and handling the export process, we aim to make India-UK trade simpler, more transparent, and easier to navigate for global buyers.