What Does India Export To USA? Top 10 Items By Value

India shipped roughly $86.5 billion of goods to the United States in FY 2024-25, an 11.6% increase over the prior year, making the US India’s single largest export market and putting India among the top sourcing countries for the US economy.

The trade picture in 2026 looks meaningfully different. Leather and traditional petroleum, which once anchored the list, have dropped down the rankings. Electronics, particularly smartphones, have leaped to the top. Pharmaceuticals have grown into a $10-billion-plus category in their own right. 

At Artemus Transportation Solutions, we help US importers and customs brokers handle India-origin formal entries every day, so we see how this list translates into actual compliance and landed cost. The guide below covers what India currently exports to the USA, where 2026 tariffs landed by category, the emerging sectors worth watching, and what US importers actually need to clear these goods at the border.

The India-USA Trade Picture

India exported approximately $86.5 billion of goods to the United States in FY 2024-25, an 11.6% increase year over year, making the US India’s largest export destination by a wide margin. The top three categories (electronics, pharmaceuticals, and gems and jewelry) together account for roughly 40% of the total value. The remaining categories are spread across machinery, textiles, refined petroleum, organic chemicals, iron and steel, agricultural products, and vehicles. 

According to India Briefing’s analysis of FY 2024-25 bilateral trade data, New York and New Jersey are the primary US gateways for Indian gems and pharmaceuticals, while California and Texas handle most of the machinery, technology, and refined petroleum volumes.

Why The USA Is India’s Largest Export Market?

Three structural forces keep US demand strong for Indian goods. 

First, scale: the US is the world’s largest consumer market for the categories India specializes in, particularly generic pharmaceuticals and finished jewelry. 

Second, supply chain diversification: American companies have been actively shifting sourcing away from China since 2018, and India is the most obvious large-economy alternative for several product categories. 

Third, the established US-India business relationship, with several Indian conglomerates and US multinationals operating bilateral supply chains that move components both ways. The USTR India page lays out the official bilateral trade context if you want the policy framing.

What Changed Between 2023 & 2026?

Three shifts matter most. The category mix rebalanced sharply: smartphones moved from negligible to the single largest line item, with FY 2024-25 smartphone exports exceeding $17 billion and iPhones accounting for roughly 75% of that. Pharmaceutical exports grew faster than the overall basket, crossing $10 billion. 

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Top 10 Items India Exports To USA (Ranked By Value)

Ranked by FY 2024-25 export value. Figures are drawn from The Dollar Business’ breakdown of India’s top exports to the USA and OverseasLogistic’s category-level analysis, cross-referenced against US Census Bureau bilateral trade data. Where ranges appear, different sources count slightly different sub-categories.

1. Electronics & Smartphones ($14-17 Billion)

Smartphones drove the surge. FY 2024-25 smartphone exports from India to the US exceeded $17 billion, with iPhones produced at Apple’s contract manufacturing partners (Foxconn, Pegatron, Tata Electronics) accounting for roughly 75% of that figure. Beyond phones, the category covers telecom equipment, circuit boards, transformers, and consumer electronics. 

The US shift to source iPhones outside China through the Apple India production ramp is the single biggest reason this category jumped to the top of the list.

2. Pharmaceuticals & Drug Formulations ($10-11 Billion)

India is often called the pharmacy of the world for a reason. Roughly 40% of every generic prescription dispensed in the US comes from an Indian-manufactured product. The FY 2024-25 export value of pharmaceutical products and drug formulations from India to the US was approximately $10.7 billion, with active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), finished formulations, and over-the-counter medicines all represented. 

USFDA approvals for Indian manufacturing facilities continue to set new records year over year, which underpins the export growth. Pharmaceuticals were also explicitly carved out of the 2025-26 reciprocal tariff regime, which preserved competitiveness during the peak tariff months.

3. Gems, Diamonds, & Jewelry ($10-12 Billion)

Cut and polished diamonds alone accounted for over $4.3 billion of Indian exports to the US in FY 2024-25. Add finished gold and silver jewelry, mounted and unmounted gemstones, and the full category lands in the $10-12 billion range depending on which sub-codes are counted. Surat handles the bulk of diamond cutting and polishing; Jaipur is the center for colored stones and handcrafted jewelry. 

Big US jewelry retailers source heavily from Surat, often through New York and New Jersey ports of entry.

4. Machinery & Nuclear Reactors / Boilers ($6-7 Billion)

This category sits under HS Chapter 84 and is broader than the name suggests. It includes machine tools, agricultural equipment, industrial machinery, auto components, transmission shafts, turbo jets, taps, valves, and propellers, along with the nuclear reactor and boiler components the chapter is officially named for. India’s engineering goods exports to the US grew at over 6% in FY 2024-25 and now sit at roughly $6-7 billion. 

This is the category where India most directly substitutes for Chinese machinery imports for many US buyers.

5. Textiles & Apparel ($5-7 Billion)

Cotton garments, ready-made apparel, home furnishings, and made-up textile articles together represent a $5-7 billion category, with women’s and girls’ suits, ensembles, jackets and blazers alone accounting for roughly $1.3 billion in FY 2024-25. India’s textile and apparel exports rose about 7% year over year, with the US, EU, and UK accounting for over half. 

Tirupur is the largest production hub for cotton knitwear; the National Capital Region handles much of the woven apparel volume.

6. Refined Petroleum Products ($3-4 Billion)

Refined petroleum products (diesel, petrol, aviation fuel, lubricant oils) generated $3-4 billion in FY 2024-25 US-bound exports. India’s major refining centers at Jamnagar (Reliance) and Mumbai supply much of this volume. 

Petroleum has fallen down the rankings from its earlier top-three position because growth in other categories (electronics, pharma) has outpaced petroleum, and refined fuel exports specifically were affected by the February 2026 commitment from India to halt Russian crude purchases.

7. Organic Chemicals ($3-4 Billion)

Organic chemicals exports under HS Chapter 29 covered roughly $3-4 billion in FY 2024-25. India is a major global producer of specialty chemicals, agrochemicals, dyes and pigments, and intermediate chemicals that feed into pharmaceutical and industrial manufacturing globally. 

Many US pharmaceutical and chemical companies buy intermediates from Indian suppliers and process them into finished products domestically.

8. Iron And Steel Articles ($2-3 Billion)

Articles of iron and steel under HS Chapter 73 represent roughly $2-3 billion in FY 2024-25 India-to-US trade. The category includes pipes, tubes, fasteners, structural elements, kitchenware, and finished steel goods. 

This category bore the full impact of Section 232 steel tariffs, which moved to 50% on February 1, 2026, stacking on top of any Section 122 baseline tariff and making competitive landed cost more challenging.

9. Agricultural Products: Shrimp, Basmati, Coffee, Spices ($3-4 Billion Combined)

Indian agricultural exports to the US are spread across several sub-categories that together total $3-4 billion. 

Frozen shrimp and seafood crossed $2 billion in FY 2024-25 (with India among the top US suppliers of farmed shrimp), basmati rice volumes ran into multi-billion-dollar territory globally with the US among the top destinations, coffee exports spiked 40% year over year to roughly $1.8 billion, and Indian spices, essential oils, and processed foods round out the category. All of these face FDA prior notice and FSIS or USDA compliance for food safety.

10. Vehicles & Auto Components ($2-3 Billion)

Vehicles other than railway equipment, along with motor vehicle parts and accessories, account for roughly $2-3 billion of FY 2024-25 India-to-US exports. India is a significant global producer of two-wheelers and four-wheelers, but the larger US trade comes from auto components: brake systems, transmission parts, electrical components, and tier-two automotive parts that feed into US-based vehicle assembly. 

Tennessee and Illinois are notable US destinations because of automotive assembly plants in those states. 

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Emerging & Fast-Growing Indian Export Categories

Beyond the top 10 by raw value, several Indian export categories are growing fast enough to warrant separate attention. None are large enough to crack the top 10 yet, but several will in the next two to three FY cycles.

Solar Cells & Renewable Energy Hardware

India’s solar manufacturing capacity grew sharply between 2022 and 2025 under domestic policy push, and exports to the US accelerated as American buyers diversified away from Chinese solar suppliers facing Section 301 tariffs and UFLPA enforcement. India is positioning to capture market share in solar cells, modules, and related hardware over the next several years.

Aerospace Components & Defense

Aerospace and defense components have been growing on the back of bilateral defense cooperation agreements. India’s Hindustan Aeronautics and several private aerospace manufacturers supply parts and assemblies into US defense and commercial aviation supply chains.

Specialty Chemicals & APIs

Beyond the headline organic chemicals category, specialty chemicals (high-purity intermediates, agrochemical intermediates, dye intermediates) and active pharmaceutical ingredients are growing categories that often sit under broader HS codes but represent fast-growing sub-segments.

Processed Food & Coffee

Coffee exports jumped 40% year over year in FY 2024-25 to roughly $1.8 billion, the strongest single-category growth rate on the list. Processed foods (ready-to-eat Indian meals, snacks, plant-based products) are also a notable growth area, particularly in US states with large South Asian diaspora populations.

Handicrafts & Sustainable Goods

Handicrafts and home decor sit at the intersection of craft tradition and growing US demand for sustainable, artisan-made products. The global market is estimated near $100 billion, and Indian exporters have a strong position in handmade textiles, wooden goods, bamboo and biodegradable items, and decor categories.

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What Does India Export To The USA? A Decision Point 

India exports approximately $86.5 billion of goods to the USA each year. The US is India’s largest export destination by a wide margin, and the category mix has shifted significantly since 2023, with electronics overtaking traditional leaders like leather and traditional petroleum.

1. Electronics And Smartphones: $14-17 billion
2. Pharmaceuticals And Drug Formulations: $10-11 billion
3. Gems, Diamonds, And Jewelry: $10-12 billion
4. Machinery And Nuclear Reactors / Boilers: $6-7 billion
5. Textiles And Apparel: $5-7 billion
6. Refined Petroleum Products: $3-4 billion
7. Organic Chemicals: $3-4 billion
8. Iron And Steel Articles: $2-3 billion
9. Agricultural Products (Shrimp, Basmati, Coffee, Spices): $3-4 billion combined
10. Vehicles And Auto Components: $2-3 billion

For Established Importers: High-Value Volume Plays

If you already run formal entries at scale and have continuous customs bonds in place, the high-volume categories (electronics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, machinery) reward sourcing diversification. The infrastructure cost of adding India as an additional sourcing country is incremental rather than additive, and the categories where India most directly substitutes for China (electronics components, machinery, textiles) carry tariff advantages even at Phase 6 rates.

For New Importers: Lower-Risk Entry Categories

Importers new to India sourcing typically benefit from starting with categories that have simpler regulatory profiles. Textiles, jewelry, and processed handicrafts have well-understood paperwork stacks and don’t require FDA or FCC clearances. Pharmaceuticals and food products require partner government agency approvals that are best handled with prior brokerage experience.

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Compliance Requirements For US Importers Of Indian Goods

Every category on the top 10 list crosses the US border under formal entry (for shipments above $2,500) or informal entry (below $2,500), now that the Section 321 de minimis exemption has been suspended for all countries. 

The compliance stack below applies regardless of product category, with some additional layers depending on what you’re importing.

ISF 10+2 Filing For Ocean Shipments From India

Importer Security Filing (ISF), also known as 10+2, must be transmitted to CBP at least 24 hours before ocean cargo is loaded onto a US-bound vessel at the Indian port. It covers 10 data elements from the importer (seller, buyer, manufacturer, ship-to, container stuffing location, consolidator, importer of record, consignee, country of origin, HTS) and 2 from the carrier (vessel stow plan, container status messages). 

India-origin ISF filings need to account for Mumbai, Chennai, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, and other major ports of loading. Late or inaccurate filings carry penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

AMS 24-Hour Rule For Indian-Origin Ocean Cargo

The Automated Manifest System (AMS) filing is the carrier-side manifest data transmitted to CBP 24 hours before vessel loading at the Indian port. AMS and ISF together give CBP the pre-arrival risk picture for each container. For NVOCCs and freight forwarders that file their own manifests, our AMS filing software handles the 24-hour rule directly. 

For most US importers, the AMS is filed by the ocean carrier, and the only thing the importer needs to verify is that the ISF data matches the AMS data to avoid mismatch holds.

HTS Classification & Country Of Origin Marking

Each Indian-origin product needs a 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule code, which determines MFN duty, Section 122 applicability, any Section 232 stacking, and partner government agency flags. 

Goods themselves need country-of-origin marking that is legible, conspicuous, and permanent under 19 CFR Part 134. “Made in India” marking violations carry a 10% ad valorem penalty stacked on top of duty, so this is not a cosmetic concern.

Partner Government Agency Requirements

Several top 10 categories trigger additional regulatory filings beyond CBP. FDA Prior Notice is required for all food, drug, medical device, and cosmetic imports, which covers pharmaceuticals, shrimp, basmati rice, coffee, spices, and any food category. FCC Form 740 applies to RF-emitting electronics, covering smartphones, telecom gear, and consumer electronics. 

EPA filings apply for certain chemicals, vehicles, and engines under TSCA and other statutes. FSIS clearance applies to meat and poultry. CPSC General Certificate of Conformity applies to consumer products including children’s goods, apparel, and many household items.

Customs Bonds & Entry Summary Filing

Every formal entry requires a customs bond. A Single Entry Bond is typically priced at 3-5% of duty owed (minimum $50-$100). A Continuous Bond covers all entries for a year at 10% of the importer’s annual duty exposure. For importers running more than 5-7 entries per year, continuous bonds usually pay for themselves. 

The entry summary (CBP Form 7501) is then filed within 10 working days of release, calculating duty, the Merchandise Processing Fee, and the Harbor Maintenance Fee (for ocean cargo). The current Merchandise Processing Fee figures and calculation methodology are a useful reference for landed cost modeling on India-origin shipments.

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How Artemus Helps US Importers Source From India?

The compliance load on India-origin shipments matches any major sourcing country: ISF on every ocean shipment, AMS coordination, HTS classification, partner government agency filings where applicable, customs bonds, entry summary preparation, and accurate landed-cost calculation under whatever tariff phase is current. 

The error modes (mismatched ISF and AMS, missing FDA prior notice, manual surcharges on entry summary, undervalued shipments triggering audits) are the same regardless of whether the goods are coming from India, Vietnam, Mexico, or China.

At Artemus, our ACE-connected platform handles ISF 10+2 transmissions, entry summary preparation, current user fee application, PGA flagging, and bond management from a single dashboard. Our customs brokerage runs alongside, so importers who don’t want to manage filings in-house can hand them off entirely. 

The combination of customs broker software, brokerage services, and ISF/AMS filing tools means US importers can scale Indian sourcing without scaling vendor count on the compliance side. For importers actively comparing India to other sourcing countries, our consultative approach to landed-cost modeling and tariff phase tracking is built into the brokerage relationship.

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FAQs

1. What Does India Export To USA The Most?

By FY 2024-25 value, the single largest category is electronics and smartphones at approximately $14-17 billion, driven largely by iPhone production at Apple’s India manufacturing partners. Pharmaceuticals ($10-11 billion) and gems and jewelry ($10-12 billion) round out the top three.

2. What Is The Total Value Of India’s Exports To USA?

India’s goods exports to the United States reached approximately $86.5 billion in FY 2024-25, an 11.6% increase over the prior fiscal year. The US has been India’s largest export destination for several consecutive years.

3. What Are The Top 10 Items Exported From India To USA?

By FY 2024-25 value: (1) electronics and smartphones, (2) pharmaceuticals and drug formulations, (3) gems, diamonds, and jewelry, (4) machinery and nuclear reactors / boilers, (5) textiles and apparel, (6) refined petroleum products, (7) organic chemicals, (8) iron and steel articles, (9) agricultural products (shrimp, basmati, coffee, spices combined), and (10) vehicles and auto components.

4. What Tariffs Apply To Indian Exports To The US In 2026?

As of late February 2026, most Indian exports to the US face MFN duty plus a 10% Section 122 baseline tariff, in effect until July 26, 2026. Pharmaceuticals and semiconductors are explicitly exempt from the additional tariff. Iron and steel articles face a separate 50% Section 232 duty. A February 2026 bilateral framework deal lowered the reciprocal rate to 18%, but implementation is partial as of this writing.

5. What Products Is India Best Known For Exporting?

India is globally known for pharmaceuticals (often called the “pharmacy of the world” for its generic medicine production), cut and polished diamonds (Surat handles a majority of global diamond polishing), textiles and apparel (cotton, silk, and ready-made garments), and increasingly electronics manufacturing (iPhones, telecom equipment, and consumer electronics).

6. Is Pharmaceutical Export From India To USA Still Growing?

Yes. Indian pharmaceutical exports to the US grew at roughly 9% in FY 2024-25, with total exports reaching $10-11 billion. The category was explicitly carved out of the 2025-26 reciprocal tariff regime, which preserved competitiveness during the peak tariff months. USFDA approvals for Indian manufacturing facilities continue to set new records year over year.

7. How Does India Compare To China As A Sourcing Country?

India has advantages in pharmaceuticals (where it dominates US generics supply), gems and jewelry (where Surat handles most US-bound diamond cutting), and increasingly in electronics assembly. India is generally less competitive than China for high-volume consumer goods at the lowest price points and product categories where Chinese manufacturing scale economies dominate. For US importers diversifying away from China, India is the most obvious alternative for several categories but rarely a direct one-to-one substitute.

8. What Documents Does A US Importer Need For Indian Goods?

The standard set includes a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, certificate of origin, the importer of record number and EIN, HTS classification, country-of-origin marking on the goods themselves, and PGA forms where applicable (FDA for pharma and food, FCC for electronics, EPA for chemicals). For ocean shipments, ISF 10+2 must be filed at least 24 hours before vessel loading at the Indian port.

9. Who Are India’s Top Export Partners?

India exported to nearly 200 countries in FY 2024-25, with total goods exports of around $437 billion. The top 10 destinations together accounted for more than half of that value: the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Germany, and South Africa. The US has been India’s largest export destination for several years running, taking roughly one in every five export dollars, while the Netherlands has climbed sharply on the back of refined petroleum trade.

Conclusion

India shipped approximately $86.5 billion of goods to the United States in FY 2024-25, and the category mix is meaningfully different from the version most online lists describe. Electronics and smartphones lead, pharmaceuticals and gems hold the next two spots, and the remaining categories spread across machinery, textiles, petroleum, chemicals, steel, agriculture, and vehicles. The 2025-26 tariff sequence took the effective duty on most categories through six phases before stabilizing at MFN + 10% through July 2026, with a bilateral framework deal still in implementation.

Three takeaways are worth keeping. India is now a top-3 source for US imports across several high-value categories, and the diversification story away from China continues to favor it. The tariff environment is genuinely fluid, so landed cost modeling should be done against current HTS-specific rates rather than headline numbers. And the compliance load on India-origin shipments is comparable to any major sourcing country, which means the right tooling and brokerage relationship scale efficiently as sourcing volume grows.

If you want to see how Artemus handles ISF, AMS, entry summary, and brokerage workflow for India-origin shipments from a single platform, our software and customs brokerage services are built for exactly this kind of multi-country sourcing complexity.

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