When you think about India US trade, the flow of goods and services between India and the United States, driven by manufacturing, supply chains, and cost advantages. Also known as India-US commercial relations, it’s not just about imports and exports—it’s about who makes what, where, and why. India doesn’t just sell to the US; it builds key parts of the products Americans use every day. From steel used in American construction to electronics shipped to Silicon Valley, Indian factories are quietly woven into the US supply chain.
Take electronics manufacturing in India, a sector that grew ninefold since 2014 and now produces $180 billion worth of smartphones, laptops, and components annually. Many of those devices end up in US homes, not because they’re cheaper to make there, but because India offers skilled labor, growing infrastructure, and government incentives under Make in India. Meanwhile, US steel, mostly made in Pennsylvania and shaped by high energy and labor costs, faces stiff competition from cheaper Chinese and Indian steel—where lower production costs and fewer environmental restrictions keep prices down. Indian textile exports, especially premium cotton and handwoven fabrics from Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, are also in high demand in US fashion brands looking for quality without the premium price tag.
It’s not all one-way. The US sells high-tech machinery, aerospace parts, and medical devices to India. But the real story is how Indian manufacturing has evolved from being a low-cost assembler to a serious production partner. Companies like IKEA chose India not just for cheap labor, but for reliable suppliers of wood, metal, and fabric. BEML builds earth-moving equipment used in US infrastructure projects. And sodium hydroxide, a basic chemical made in huge volumes across India, ends up in American soaps, paper, and food processing plants.
What you’ll find below isn’t just a list of articles—it’s a map of the real connections between these two economies. You’ll see why Indian furniture beats imported brands on customization, how textile quality from India outperforms competitors, and why American companies keep coming back for more. This isn’t about politics or tariffs. It’s about factories, materials, and the quiet power of what’s made in India—and who’s buying it.
Discover the top Indian export to the USA, why pharmaceuticals lead, and how other sectors like jewelry, chemicals, and machinery stack up in 2024 trade data.