Context: Amid the calls to curb the trade, India is not keen to dent the trade ties with Turkey, as the country runs a $2.73 billion bilateral goods trade surplus, and any blockade could be counterproductive for India.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Bilateral Relations: India-Turkey: Key Trends
India-Turkey Trade Relations
- India’s exports to Turkey have steadily grown, especially in industrial sectors. In FY25, the exports to Turkey totalled $5.72 billion, largely driven by engineering exports which comprise over 50%. Notably, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector dominated the segment.
- India's Exports to Turkey: Mineral fuels and oil, engineering goods, electrical equipment, auto and its parts, chemicals, pharma, tanning and dyeing items; plastic, rubber; cotton; man-made fibres and filaments, iron and steel.
- Imports from Turkey: Marble, mineral oil, fresh apples, gold, vegetables, lime, cement, chemicals, natural or cultured pearls and iron and steel.
- India runs a $2.73 billion bilateral goods trade surplus and any blockade could be counterproductive.
India's trade relations with Turkey are facing new challenges after the country voiced "support for Pakistan" and criticised India's strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Despite growing tensions and industry pressure, the government is proceeding cautiously on Turkish imports, balancing political messages with economic logic.