Dramatic growth in India-Eu trade in 2004

India's exports to the 25-nation European Union (EU) rose to 16.2 billion euro last year, as against 14 billion euro in 2003. This represented an
increase of 16%, as compared to an increase of 2.8%  in 2003.

There was a similar sharp rise in India's imports from the EU, which stood at 17 billion euro, as against 14.5 billion euro in 2003. This represented an increase of 17%, as compared an increase of just 1.7% in 2003.

India's exports to the EU amounted to 1.6% of the EU's total imports in 2004. It was 13th among exporters to the EU, sandwiched between Canada and Saudi Arabia. The US was first and China second, with 12.3% of the EU's total imports last year.

Among India's neighbours, Bangladesh was ahead of Pakistan, with exports of 4.3 billion euro as compared to 3.4 billion euro for Pakistan in 2004.

Textiles and clothing accounted for 29% of India's total exports, and represented 7% of the EU's total imports of these products last year. Among Asian countries, China led with exports of 16 billion euro. India's
exports came to 4.7 billion euro.

The corresponding figures for Bangladesh and Pakistan were 3.9 billion euro and 2.5 billion euro.

India's major export destinations in the 25-nation EU were the UK (3.4 billion euro), Germany (2.7 billion euro), Belgium (2.3 billion euro) and Italy (2 billion euro).