Between 2000 and 2007, EU27 trade in goods with India more than doubled in value: exports rose from 13.7 billion euro to 29.5 bn, while imports increased from 12.8 bn to 26.3 bn. As a result, the EU27 surplus in trade with India increased from 0.8 bn in 2000 to 3.2 bn in 2007. This increased surplus was mainly due to a surplus in manufactured goods, which rose from 0.9 bn in 2000 to 4.7 bn in 2007. India accounted in 2007 for 2.4% of EU27 exports and 1.8% of EU27 imports, and was the EU27's 9th most important trading partner.

On the occasion of the European Union - India summit, which will take place on 29 September in Marseille in France, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, issues data on trade and investments between India and the EU.

Germany and the United Kingdom largest EU27 trading partners of India

More than 80% of EU27 exports to India in 2007 were machinery and vehicles1 and other manufactured articles1, while other manufactured articles accounted for nearly 60% of imports. At the detailed level, the main EU27 exports to India were unworked diamonds and airplanes, while the main imports were worked diamonds.

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany (7.3 bn euro, 25% of EU exports) was by far the largest exporter to India in 2007, followed by Belgium (5.4 bn or 18%) and the United Kingdom (4.3 bn or 15%). The United Kingdom (5.3 bn or 20%) was the largest importer, followed by Germany (4.3 bn or 17%) and Italy (3.4 bn or 13%).

The largest surpluses in trade with India were observed in Germany (+3.0 bn euro), Belgium (+2.1 bn) and France (+1.3 bn), while the largest deficits were registered in Spain (-1.3 bn) and the United Kingdom (-1.0 bn).

Increasing EU27 surplus in trade in services

In 2007, the EU27 exported 9.0 bn euro of services to India, while imports amounted to 6.6 bn meaning that the EU27 had a surplus of 2.4 bn in trade in services with India, compared with a surplus of 0.6 bn in 2005 and 1.4 bn in 2006. The surplus in 2007 was mainly due to other business services (+1.8 bn) and transportation (+1.1 bn). The largest deficits were observed for travel (-0.9 bn) and computer & information services (-0.5 bn). India accounted for 1.7% of total extra-EU27 trade in services.

More than 9 billion of Indian FDI in the EU27 in 2007

EU27 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India grew from 2.5 bn euro in 2005 to 10.9 bn in 2007, while Indian direct investment into the EU27 increased from 0.5 bn in 2006 to 9.5 bn in 2007.