India Korea Trade
The Republic of Korea is India’s 13th largest FDI investor from April 2000-March 2024, standing at US$ 5.85 billion.
Last updated: Feb, 2025
Introduction
India and Korea's bilateral relationship have longstanding historical and cultural ties, spanning over two millennia. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973. It made the path for a sound and steady development in bilateral relations across a wide range of areas, including politics, economy and culture.
India-Korea Trade
- The bilateral trade between India and Korea was US$ 27.52 billion during 2023-24.
- The Republic of Korea is India’s 13th largest FDI investor from April 2000-September 2024, standing at US$ 6.35 billion. Metallurgy, automobile, electronics, prime movers, machine tools, hospitals, and diagnostic centres are the top sectors which have attracted investment.
- As India’s economic ties continue to grow with South Korea, the bilateral trade is likely to reach US$ 50 billion by 2030. It was US$ 23.7 billion in 2021, up 40% from the preceding year.
Major exported items from India to Korea
- India exported 3,550 commodities to Korea in FY24.
- India’s exports to Korea stood at US$ 6.42 billion during FY24.
- Major exported items from India to Korea include Engineering Goods (US$ 2.7 billion), petroleum products (US$ 1.4 billion), Organic and Inorganic Chemicals (US$ 679 million), Others (US$ 205 million), Oil Meals (US$ 197 million) etc. in FY24.
- India’s exports to Korea stood at US$ 3,41 billion from April-October 2024.
- Major exported items from India to Korea include nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical (US$ 551.63 million), mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (US$ 522.82 million), Organic and Inorganic Chemicals (US$ 431 million), aluminium and articles thereof (US$ 363.13 million), iron and steel (US$ 249.54 million), etc. from April-October 2024.
Major imported items by India from Korea
- India imported 3,472 commodities from Korea in FY24.
- Imports from Korea to India stood at US$ 21.1 billion during 2023-24.
- India's imports from Korea include Electrical products (US$ 4.31 billion), Petroleum products (US$ 3.63 billion), iron and steel (US$ 2.74 billion), Plastic and plastic articles (US$ 2.24 billion) and nuclear products and machinery (US$ 1.92 billion), etc. during 2023-2024.
- Imports from Korea to India stood at US$ 12.46 billion in April-October 2024.
- India's imports from Korea include electrical machinery and equipment (US$ 2.95 billion), mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (US$ 1.61 billion), Plastic (US$ 1.38 billion), iron and steel (US$ 1.47 billion) and nuclear products and machinery (US$ 1.26 million), etc. in April-October 2024.
Economic Relations and Investments
- In August 2023, Union minister Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar discussed potential collaboration with South Korean ministerial delegators on digital infrastructure, India Stack, AI, skilling, and cybersecurity during bilateral meetings.
- Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi expressed the progression of mutual respect, shared values, and burgeoning partnerships. Anticipating a close collaboration with Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol, the Prime Minister looks forward to enhancing and broadening the Special Strategic Partnership.
- The India-Korea Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES) has been inaugurated to expedite the clearance process of imported goods. EODES is designed to streamline the implementation of the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) through the electronic exchange of origin information between the customs administrations of the two nations, specifically for goods traded under the CEPA.
- In 2021, India received a recorded US$ 218 million investment from Korea. Korea’s total FDI to India during April 2000-March 2023 was valued at US$ 5.46 billion. Investments from India to Korea are to the tune of approx US$ 3 billion led by Ssangyong, Tata Daewoo, and Novelis. Hyundai Motor Group, Samsung Electronics and LG Group have been the leader among the Korean companies that have invested in India.
- Indian companies like Mahindra and Mahindra, Tata Motors, and banks like State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda have large investments in South Korea.
- To improve bilateral economic relations, India and South Korea are seeking to expand a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with an ambition to increase bilateral trade to US$ 50 billion before 2030.
- India and ROK launched an initiative ‘Korea Plus’, as proposed by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in June 2016 in India to promote and facilitate Korean Investments in India. A Korea India SME and Start-up Centre was launched in September 2019.
- India and South Korea signed an arrangement on November 30, 2022, regarding the Economic Development Cooperation Fund loan of over US$ 1,900 million (245 billion Korean Won) for the establishment of an Intelligent Transport System on the Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway Project in Delhi. The project's objective is to enhance traffic management efficiency by establishing the Intelligent Traffic Management System.
Recent Trends & developments
- South Korea’s leading asset manager Mirae Asset Global Investments has purchased a logistics centre near Mumbai in the latest move to expand its portfolio in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
- Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) organised the India Korea Business Partnership Forum on 10th November 2023.
- The 9th round of the India-Republic of Korea (ROK) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) up-gradation negotiation was held in Seoul from November 3-4, 2022. Both sides shared the hope that the CEPA upgradation negotiations would play an important role in strengthening and deepening economic cooperation between both countries.
- In 2020, India and South Korea signed a Roadmap for Defence Industries Cooperation between the Republic of India and the Republic of Korea (ROK) deal.
- Korea’s New Southern Policy reveals areas where maritime cooperation between the two countries can be further developed. These include shipbuilding (an area where India and South Korea already have a Memorandum of Understanding), joint capacity building, maritime realm awareness, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, search and rescue, marine pollution, anti-piracy, anti-terrorism and anti-trafficking, and prevention of marine pollution.
- On April 25, 2023, the 11th High-Level Meeting (HLM) took place in New Delhi between the Indian Coast Guard and the Korean Coast Guard. This meeting, conducted in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) established in 2006, aims to enhance operational-level collaboration and capacity building. The focus of the HLM is on areas such as Maritime Search & Rescue (M-SAR), Marine Pollution Response (MPR), and Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE).
Conclusion
India is Korea’s 16th biggest source of imports and 7th biggest export market as of 2021. The emerging strategic alignment between India and Korea is creating a new convergence of capabilities and closer synergy in new areas of economic cooperation such as public health, green growth, digital connectivity, and trade, among others.
Contacts
- Embassy of India in Korea
Address: 101, Hannam Dong, Dokseodang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04419, Republic of Korea;
Telephone: +82-2-798-4257; +82-2-798-4268
Email: cons.seoul@mea.gov.in
Ambassador - Mr. Amit Kumar
Email: cons.seoul@mea.gov.in - Embassy of Korea in India
Address: 9, Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri Extension, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021;
Telephone: +91-11-4200-7000
Email: india@mofa.go.kr
Ambassador - Mr. Chang Jae-bok
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