India’s containerised trade growth in Q2 2019 slowed to 1% from 9% over the same period last year, according to Maersk India Trade Report.
This was due to a host of international factors such as slowing trade growth, and growing trade tensions, coupled with domestic factors like rural consumer distress, tightening liquidity and a slowdown in key manufacturing sectors, it said.
Combined, these triggers impacted India’s economic activity, slowing overall import-export growth, it added. As per the report, west India delivered the highest growth with imports growing at 4% and exports at 11%. north India delivered 1% growth in imports and a decline of 9% in exports. South India registered 1% import growth and 2% export growth while east India recorded 2% growth in imports and a decline of 1% in exports.
Exports to China fall
“India’s exports to China declined by 20%, led by a reduction in demand for India-made textiles and apparel. Imports from China contracted more, by 22%,” the report said adding exports to Saudi Arabia have grown by 74% with vegetables and tiles, stone and glass exports from India.
Steve Felder, MD, Maersk South Asia, “Amid increasing global volatility, a slower local economy and the USA’s withdrawal of preferential access for certain Indian products, India’s import-export trade is expected to continue to face headwinds in the coming months.”
However, the Commerce Ministry’s recently proposed export promotion scheme, supported with a production-based support scheme, coupled with a weaker rupee, is expected to boost Make in India and benefit multiple industries, he said.
India’s overall trade with North America grew 14%, and with Europe a growth of 10% was witnessed in Q2 2019.
Containerised trade with the Mediterranean countries was flat, primarily due to a 2% reduction in exports.
India’s export growth to North America doubled to 15% in Q2 2019. A large part of this growth can be attributed to textiles and apparels, and metal exports, which rose by 14%. Indian shrimp exports further contributed to this growth.
The sharpest fall seen in exports to North America was India-made vehicles, which slowed to 11% growth from a strong 67% growth last year. On the import side, while domestic demand for textiles, apparel and accessories from North America grew, commodities such as fruits and nuts, vegetables and foodstuff experienced a weakening demand.
