Source: Economic Times: 15 December 2025
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300 Products Flagged for Export Push:
Engineering goods, pharma, chemicals, and agri products have been identified as high-potential items to scale Indian exports to Russia. -
Severe Trade Imbalance Drives Urgency:
India exports just $1.7 bn to Russia against Russian imports of $37.4 bn, while India’s trade deficit stands at $59 bn. -
Data-Led Market Targeting:
The commerce ministry mapped India’s supply strengths against Russia’s unmet demand, focusing on sectors where complementarities are strongest. -
Energy Dependence Shapes Strategy:
Imports from Russia jumped to $64.24 bn in 2024, driven by crude oil, making export diversification essential to stabilise the partnership.
Strategic note: India’s push to expand exports to Russia seeks to correct the trade imbalance between the two nations. With energy imports creating one-sided dependence, India is now attempting to restore leverage by embedding its manufacturing and agricultural strengths into Russia’s import structure. The objective is the conversion of political goodwill into measurable economic counterweight, and by extension, maintain long-term bargaining power.
