India import data Q1 2026: Top import partners & categories

India import data Q1 2026 overview: India's top imports and import partner

• Crude petroleum is the main import of India at US$29.64 billion in Q1 2026, ahead of gold at US$22.58 billion and electronic integrated circuits at US$8.27 billion, based on TradeInt's records.
• China is the largest import partner of India at US$40.36 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates at US$11.52 billion and the United States at US$11.30 billion.
• India's imports remain concentrated in energy, precious metals, and electronics, reflecting a large domestic market reliant on foreign fuel, gold, and technology inputs.
• The Ministry of Commerce reported India's May 2026 merchandise imports rose to US$73.41 billion, with Russia, China, and the United States the fastest-growing import sources.

What are the top 10 import products in India? India import data on product list in Q1 2026

From TradeInt's India statistics, the top import product in India is crude petroleum at US$29.64 billion, followed by gold at US$22.58 billion and electronic integrated circuits at US$8.27 billion.

The top 10 Indian imports are completed by coal, petroleum gases, smartphones, silver, diamonds, data processing machines, and aircraft.

India imports by product in Q1 2026:

• Crude petroleum (HS 2709) - US$29.64 billion: India's single largest import, feeding its refineries and energy-dependent economy.
• Unwrought gold (HS 7108) - US$22.58 billion: India's second-largest import, tied to jewellery demand and household investment.
• Electronic integrated circuits (HS 8542) - US$8.27 billion: chips and components feeding India's growing electronics assembly industry.
• Coal (HS 2701) - US$6.62 billion: thermal and coking coal supplying India's power and steel sectors.
• Petroleum gases and LPG (HS 2711) - US$6.12 billion: liquefied gases for household cooking fuel and industrial use.

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This article provides an overview of India’s imports. Use TradeInt to explore more detailed trade records and continue tracking this market as new data becomes available. Search India import records →

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What is driving India's top import categories?

India's import bill in 2026 is being shaped by a single significant factor: securing energy through a period of Middle East disruption.

With crude petroleum and petroleum gases together forming the largest slice of imports, the conflict around the Strait of Hormuz forced India to reroute its energy sourcing at speed.

According to the Petroleum Ministry, India now secures about 70% of its crude imports from outside the Strait of Hormuz, sourcing oil from around 40 countries to keep supply stable.

The specific moves behind energy realignment stand out across fuel types:

• Russian crude filled the gap: India's Russian crude imports rose to between 2 and 2.25 million barrels per day in April 2026, about 1.5 times the February level, reported by Baird Maritime. Discounted Russian barrels became the fastest way to replace disrupted Gulf supply.
• The US became the top gas supplier: The United States became India's largest supplier of LNG and LPG in May 2026, Baird Maritime reported, after gas flows from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE were disrupted by the regional conflict.
• Domestic LPG output rose to ease import pressure: India lifted domestic LPG production by about 25% after a March 2026 government order directing refineries to divert propane and butane into the cooking-fuel pool, reducing reliance on imported gas for households.

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Who is the largest exporter to India? India import data analysis by TradeInt revealed

The no. 1 exporter to India is China at US$40.36 billion in exporting value, in Q1 2026, followed by the United Arab Emirates at US$11.52 billion and the United States at US$11.30 billion, based on TradeInt's records.

Other top importing partners of India are Russia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Iraq.

Top India import partners in Q1 2026:

1. China (US$40.36 billion): the dominant supplier, led by integrated circuits and electronics, with Apple Operations being the top supplier.
2. United Arab Emirates (US$11.52 billion): a key gold and precious metal gateway into India.
3. United States (US$11.30 billion): a diversified supplier, with crude petroleum among its top lines.
4. Russia (US$10.96 billion): a core energy source, supplying crude petroleum at scale.
5. Saudi Arabia (US$7.80 billion): a major Gulf crude supplier, led by the Saudi Arabian Oil Company.

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How does India import from its top partners?

India's supplier map is being reshaped by the same energy shock that hit its product mix, and the fastest-growing partners are those able to fill the Gulf gap.

Stated by the Ministry of Commerce, India's fastest-growing import sources by value in May 2026 were Russia, up 63.46%, China, up 23.4%, and the United States, up 54.43%, a clear tilt toward suppliers offering energy, electronics, and gas outside the disrupted Middle East corridor.

A closer look at what is moving each of these corridors:

• Russia surged on discounted crude: Russia's sharp import growth was driven almost entirely by crude oil, as India lifted Russian barrels to over 2 million per day to replace Gulf supply at a lower unit cost.
• The US gained on energy and gas: The United States climbed on the back of crude and its new position as India's top LNG and LPG supplier, showing how the energy realignment reshaped the partner ranking, not just the product mix.
• Emerging suppliers grew fastest: Oman rose 305.66% and Brazil 358.83% in May 2026 per the Ministry of Commerce, as India widened its sourcing base to reduce dependence on any single supplier during the disruption.

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How is India's import demand shifting in 2026? India import data analysis

As captured in TradeInt's import dataset, India's tracked import value rose steadily through 2025 before easing into early 2026. In fact, its quarterly import value increased from US$174.22 billion in Q1 2025 to US$198.64 billion in Q4 2025, then eased to US$185.16 billion in Q1 2026.

India’s import value stayed above US$170B across all quarters, rising through 2025 before easing to US$185.16B in Q1 2026, based on TradeInt's India verified trade data

India's overall import demand in 2026 has been defined by a single event: the Middle East conflict that disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, the channel through which a large share of India's energy normally flows.

Rather than let the shock cut import volumes, India acted to keep its trade bill stable, rerouting energy sourcing and drawing on strategic reserves. This is why India's total merchandise imports still rose to US$73.41 billion in May 2026, up from US$60.86 billion a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The forces that shaped India's import demand through the disruption:

• The Strait of Hormuz threat reshaped sourcing: With the conflict raising the risk of a blockage, India moved about 70% of its crude imports to routes outside the Strait of Hormuz and drew on reserves covering 76 to 80 days of supply, according to Baird Maritime, keeping energy inflows steady rather than cutting them.
• Supplier diversification accelerated: India widened its import base at speed, lifting purchases from Russia, the US, Oman, and Brazil, a defensive shift that reduced its dependence on any single supplier during the disruption.
• Domestic substitution eased import pressure: India raised domestic LPG production by about 25% following a March 2026 government order, showing how New Delhi used local output to soften demand for cooking fuel imports rather than absorb the full cost of higher imports.
• The energy import price increased: Higher global energy prices during the conflict lifted the value of India's energy imports, which kept the total import bill climbing even where physical demand held steady.

How can importers track India's supply chains with trade data?

India import data lets a business trace a product from its source country to the Indian company receiving it, exposing the full supply chain behind a shipment. This turns a single customs record into a map of who supplies what, and to whom.

TradeInt structures this from customs and Bill of Lading records covering over 10 billion shipments and 500 million company profiles, so an entire sourcing corridor becomes searchable.

Practical ways to apply India import data for supply-chain research:

• Trace a product to its origins: Search trade records by searching product name or HS code such as "crude petroleum" or "1111" to view a list of country origins exporting to India, which can be filtered by transaction period.
• Find the buyers behind a corridor: Identify which Indian companies import from a given country, turning a trade flow into a named buyer list.
• Monitor a supplier's shipment pattern: Track how often a specific supplier ships into India, so consistent partners stand out from occasional ones.
• Compare sourcing across markets: Map where a product is sourced today to spot concentration risk and identify alternative supply corridors.

Access broad India trade data on TradeInt, with top 2-digit to 4-digit HS, import/export partners in a graph visualization.

Conclusion

India's Q1 2026 import profile focuses on energy, gold, and technology at scale. Crude petroleum led at US$29.64 billion, gold followed at US$22.58 billion, and integrated circuits ranked third at US$8.27 billion, while China, the UAE, and the US supplied the largest values by partner.

As Middle East disruption tested its supply lines, India rerouted crude toward Russia, turned to the US for gas, and lifted domestic LPG output, all while keeping most of its crude flowing from outside the Strait of Hormuz. For businesses sourcing from or selling into India, the opportunity lies in following exactly how these supply corridors continue to move.

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Frequently asked questions

What is India's main import?

India's main import is crude petroleum (HS 2709), valued at US$29.64 billion in Q1 2026, based on TradeInt's India trade records. Energy is India's largest import exposure, feeding its refineries and fast-growing domestic fuel demand.

What is the total import of India?

India's merchandise imports reached US$73.41 billion in May 2026, up from US$60.86 billion a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Commerce. On TradeInt's tracked data, India's quarterly import value was US$185.16 billion in Q1 2026.

What does India buy from the USA?

India buys crude petroleum, LNG, and LPG from the United States, which became India's top gas supplier in May 2026. The US was India's third-largest import partner at US$11.30 billion in Q1 2026, according to TradeInt's data analysis.

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