India-China bilateral trade declines by 3.59% in first five months of year

Beijing: The bilateral trade between India and China has declined by 3.59 per cent year on year, totalling $36.87 billion in the first five months of this year, denting optimism that the total trade volume may cross $100 billion mark in 2019.

The India-China bilateral trade last year touched a historic high of $95.54 billion, raising hopes that the trade this year could cross the historic $100 billion mark.

The trade deficit in 2018, according to Chinese official data, climbed to $57.86 billion from $51.72 billion in 2017.

As per the latest data released by Chinese customs, the bilateral trade in the first five months of 2019 has declined by 3.59 per cent year on year amounting to $36.87 billion.

In the same period, India's exports to China declined by 1.62 per cent to reach $7.70 billion while Chinese exports to India decelerated by 4.10 per cent to total $29.17 billion.

In May this year, the bilateral trade declined by a significant 5.04 per cent, totalling $8.18 billion year on year.

India's exports to China in May 2019 stood at $1.52 billion, decreasing by 7.15 per cent, while Chinese exports have declined by 4.54 per cent, standing at $6.66 billion.

After the bilateral trade crossed $95 billion last year which was a historic high, officials in recent months expressed optimism that the bilateral trade for the first time may cross $100 billion. But the trend of decline may make it difficult unless the trade volumes picks up later in the year.

Major growth commodities of India's export basket in the period January-May 2019 were organic chemicals at 23.56 per cent, cotton 50.73 per cent, plastics 25.48 per cent, fish and crustaceans 394.97 per cent, electrical machinery 33.54 per cent, Iron and steel 39.12 per cent and coffee, tea, mate and spices 654.22 per cent, according to the official data.

Export of commodities such as natural earls, precious stones, copper, mineral fuel declined by 29.65 per cent, 89.21, 39.38 per cent respectively from January-May period. Indian exports of fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates to China continued to show a sharp increase, registering a robust growth of 394.97 per cent from January-May 2019 to reach $392.38 million.

Export of Indian grapes to China grew by 165.28 per cent year-on-year to reach $13.26 million. Export of Indian sugar to China stood at $7.77 million.

India was the largest exporter of coffee, tea, mate and spices to China (46.97 per cent share) with value of $168.42 million.

This was mainly due to the growth in exports to China of spices, having more than 90 per cent share totalling $156.86 million. India was the third largest exporter of fisheries 6.98 per cent share, fifth largest exporter of fresh grapes 2.68 per cent share, and cane and beet sugar to China 2.12 per cent share.

Major commodities of Chinese exports to India were electronic items 26.12, per cent, electrical equipment, organic chemicals, plastics and fertilizers. Import of electrical machinery and equipment have been witnessing decline of more than 20 per cent year-on-year for the last 4 months.

Imports of fertilisers from China showed a sharp increase of 233.17 per cent to reach $512.39 million in January-May, 2019. India remained the largest export destination for Chinese fertilizers.