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Strategic Lens

India and China

First country

Second country

In 2025, India sold USD 18.1 billion of goods to China and bought USD 149.5 billion from it. India and China share a land border of 2,659 km. The DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (Bangkok Agreement) amended (2006). In 2024, 8 thousand people born in India lived in China, and 88 thousand people born in China lived in India. Both are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in goods grew 96 percent, from USD 85.7 billion in 2019 to USD 167.6 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products grew 58 percent, from USD 2.78 billion in 2019 to USD 4.40 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel grew 109 percent, from USD 17.9 billion in 2019 to USD 37.5 billion in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, China sold USD 149.5 billion of goods, against USD 18.1 billion the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, India sold USD 2.37 billion of mineral fuels and oils, against USD 310 million the other way.
  • BothTwo-way trade in critical minerals and metals is 56 percent below its 2021 peak of USD 1.32 billion.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); CIA World Factbook (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 September 2026); UN DESA International Migrant Stock 2024 (retrieved 25 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 167.6 billion
2025, as reported by India
India to China
USD 18.1 billion
2025, as reported by India
China to India
USD 149.5 billion
2025, as reported by India

What connects India and China

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, India sold USD 18.1 billion of goods to China and bought USD 149.5 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, India sold USD 2.37 billion of mineral fuels and oils to China and bought USD 310 million from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, India sold USD 425 million of critical minerals and metals to China and bought USD 156 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, India sold USD 3.67 billion of agricultural and food products to China and bought USD 730 million from it.FertiliserIn 2025, India sold USD 2.1 million of fertilisers to China and bought USD 2.16 billion from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, India sold USD 1.55 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to China and bought USD 35.9 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, India sold USD 2.61 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to China and bought USD 57.0 billion from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, India sold USD 80.4 million of pharmaceutical products to China and bought USD 197 million from it.

Security

Defence and armsBoth are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.Border and maritimeIndia and China share a land border of 2,659 km.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (Bangkok Agreement) amended (2006).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 82 percent in 2023, and 84 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 8 thousand people born in India lived in China, and 88 thousand people born in China lived in India.

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