India bucks global trade slowdown as container exports surge 13%, imports grow 20%

India’s containerised trade has emerged as a bright spot amid a volatile global trade environment in 2025, with strong export and import growth underscoring the country’s rising relevance in global supply chains, according to Bhavik Mota, Director & Head of Ocean Markets – South Asia at Maersk.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Mota said India’s containerised exports grew nearly 13% in 2025, while imports expanded at an even faster pace of about 20% year-on-year, reflecting both strengthening manufacturing capabilities and robust domestic demand.

India outperforms despite global uncertainty

At a time when global trade has been weighed down by geopolitical tensions, tariffs and demand uncertainty, India’s performance stands out for its resilience. “India’s containerised trade has shown quite a bit of dynamism and resilience in 2025,” Mota said, adding that growth has been broad-based across both exports and imports.

On the export side, India’s ties with Western markets have remained particularly strong. Exports to the US rose nearly 17% during the year, while shipments to Europe climbed close to 20%, making them two of the most important growth drivers for Indian trade.

This performance, Mota noted, reflects not just demand conditions but also the increasing competitiveness of Indian manufacturing and exporters’ ability to integrate more effectively with global supply chains.

US, Europe remain key markets despite tariff pressures

The strong export numbers come despite tariff-related headwinds, especially in the US market. According to Mota, retail and lifestyle products continued to lead exports to the US, followed by pharmaceuticals, machinery and metals, highlighting the diversity of India’s export basket.

“India is not dependent on a single category,” he said, pointing out that diversification across sectors has helped exporters remain resilient against global shocks, even as certain segments face pressure.

Europe, too, has remained a critical destination, accounting for nearly one-fifth of India’s exports. While demand conditions in some parts of the region have softened due to inflation, overall trade volumes have held up, supported by long-term relationships and steady cargo flows.

Logistics reliability emerges as a key differentiator

A critical enabler of this trade momentum has been improvements in shipping reliability. Mota highlighted the role of Maersk’s revamped East–West network under its Gemini service, which was launched with a focus on improving schedule reliability.

“As of today, we are hovering at around 90% schedule reliability, which was the ambition,” he said. This compares with an industry average in the mid-60% range.

Higher reliability has had a direct impact on exporter confidence and planning, particularly for time-sensitive cargo such as retail, apparel and pharmaceuticals. The recalibration and induction of capacity on key trade lanes have further supported growth from India to its major markets.

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Bigger picture: India’s growing role in global trade

Taken together, strong export growth to the US and Europe, rising imports, and improvements in logistics performance point to a structural strengthening of India’s position in global trade.

“Overall, this growth indicates that India’s export basket is diversified and resilient,” Mota said, adding that better connectivity and dependable shipping schedules are increasingly becoming competitive advantages for Indian businesses.

As 2026 begins amid continued global uncertainty, the combination of resilient demand, diversified exports and improving supply-chain reliability is likely to remain central to India’s trade narrative.

Watch accompanying video for entire conversation.