India's overall exports of goods and services in 2024 are estimated to cross USD 814 billion, an increase of 5.58%, according to a report by economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).
In 2023, the country's merchandise and services exports stood at USD 768.5 billion.
This year, the report estimated that in 2024, merchandise exports are expected to reach USD 441.5 billion, showing a modest 2.34% increase over USD 431.4 billion in the previous year.
In contrast, the services exports are estimated to grow by 10.31% to USD 372.3 billion, up from USD 337.5 billion in 2023.
"India's total exports, encompassing merchandise and services, are projected to exceed USD 814 billion in 2024, reflecting a 5.58% growth compared to USD 768.5 billion in 2023," it said.
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GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said India's export landscape is undergoing a transformation that highlights both opportunities and vulnerabilities.
Sectors such as machinery and electronics are gaining prominence, with machinery's share in the export basket rising to 6.9% in 2024 from 3.8% in 2014 and electronics climbing to 7.9% in 2024 from 3.3% in 2014, he added.
"These trends underscore India's growing capabilities in higher-value sectors, a necessary shift for long-term export resilience," Srivastava said.
Traditional sectors of exports, however, are witnessing a decline. Textiles and garments, which accounted for 21.1% of exports in 2004, now represent just 8%, while gems and jewellery have dropped from 16.9% in 2004 to 7.5% in 2024.
"These declines not only reflect changing global demand but also point to India's struggle to remain competitive in labour-intensive industries," he said.
The coming year poses significant challenges for Indian exports, he cautioned, adding that the global trade growth remains sluggish, hampered by slow economic recovery in developed markets and geopolitical tensions like the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Disruptions in Red Sea shipping routes further exacerbate supply chain vulnerabilities.
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