New Delhi, Jan 6: NITI Aayog on Tuesday released the fifth edition of its publication Trade Watch Quarterly, presenting a data-driven assessment of India’s trade performance amid changing global economic conditions, with a special focus on the structure and competitiveness of the country’s automotive exports.
The latest edition, covering Quarter I of FY 2025–26 (April–June 2025), was released by Dr Arvind Virmani, Member, NITI Aayog, in the presence of senior officials and other members. Highlighting the significance of the report, Dr Virmani said the publication offers a comprehensive analysis of India’s evolving trade profile and underlines the importance of strengthening export competitiveness, particularly in key sectors such as automobiles, to sustain long-term growth and employment.
According to the report, India’s trade landscape is witnessing notable structural shifts, including a rising share of technology-intensive exports, continued strength in services-led growth, and changes in import composition that reflect deeper integration into global value chains. These trends, the publication notes, are reshaping India’s position in international trade.
The thematic section of this quarter’s edition focuses on India’s automotive exports, examining global demand patterns, India’s export presence across vehicles and auto components, tariff structures, intra-industry trade, and participation in global value chains. The analysis points to India’s growing competitiveness in segments such as auto components, motorcycles and tractors, supported by strong domestic production capabilities and expanding access to international markets.
While noting India’s gains in select automotive segments, the report highlights significant untapped potential in the global automotive export market, estimated at around $2.2 trillion and continuing to grow. Based on mapping of global exports, India’s current performance and stakeholder consultations, the publication outlines key policy priorities to enhance competitiveness, increase market share and improve global positioning. Suggested measures include strengthening quality and certification systems, promoting technology adoption, diversifying export markets and fostering stronger linkages within global automotive supply chains.
NITI Aayog said the publication is intended to serve as a useful reference for policymakers, industry stakeholders, researchers and academia by offering evidence-based insights and forward-looking recommendations to strengthen India’s trade performance in a rapidly evolving global environment.
The full report is available on the NITI Aayog website.
