India-Italy total trade size nearly doubles in 5 years:What New Delhi imports from Rome?

In the final leg of the Europe tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will land in Italy on Tuesday, 19 May, 2026. This high-profile visit marks a major step in strengthening the diplomatic and financial ties between New Delhi and Rome. Over the last few years, the two nations have transitioned into close strategic partners. This visit is expected to unlock fresh opportunities for business and economies of both the nations. During the visit, top leaders from both nations will hold high-level talks. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed. According to recent trade briefs from the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), these upcoming agreements will focus deeply on areas like green energy, digital technology partnerships, maritime port reforms, and industrial manufacturing collaboration. The Reality of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) A common question that arises is whether India has an active or independent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Italy. The short answer is no. India does not have an exclusive, standalone FTA with the Italian Republic. Because Italy is a prominent member of the European Union (EU), it cannot sign independent trade deals on its own. Instead, India’s trade rules with Italy fall under the broader India-EU Free Trade Agreement. This massive trade pact aims to drastically cut down import duties, ease customs rules, and give Indian businesses seamless access to Italy and 26 other European countries. What does India buy and sell to and from Italy? The trade exchange between India and Italy is highly complementary, meaning both nations successfully fulfill what the other needs. Major exports from India to Italy According to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) and IBEF reports, India holds a consistent trade surplus with Italy, meaning we export more than we import. The primary items heading from India to Italian markets include: Major imports from Italy to India On the flip side, Italy is world-renowned for its high-end engineering and luxury products. India primarily imports the following items from Italy: A look at the last 5 years of trade growth Bilateral trade between India and Italy has witnessed a strong recovery and steady upward momentum after the global slowdown caused by the pandemic. According to official economic diplomacy data from the Indian Consulate and Ministry of Commerce records, total bilateral trade stood at ₹1.16 lakh crore, as of FY25. While, India’s total trade was over ₹98 lakh crore. The share of Italy in India’s total trade stood just over 1% in the fiscal 2025. India’s export data to Italy (2021–2025) The following table details the value of goods India shipped to Italy, showing a strong spike post-2021. India’s import data from Italy (2021–2025) The following table details the value of goods India purchased from Italy over the same period, showing a steady rise in Indian demand for Italian machinery.