Trade commodities in India
India is the world's third-largest energy consumer and a significant importer of crude oil, gold, and coal. The country is a leading exporter of refined petroleum products, iron ore, and agricultural commodities such as rice and spices. India's Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) is one of Asia's largest commodity derivatives platforms.
What India sells and buys.
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India's commodity trade profile
India is the world's third-largest crude oil importer (~5 Mbpd), with Russia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the US as top suppliers. The 2022-2024 surge in Russian Urals imports at G7-cap-related discounts reshaped Indian refining economics meaningfully. India is the largest gold importer (gem & jewelry plus investment), the largest palm oil importer (Indonesia and Malaysia), and a growing thermal coal importer (Indonesia, South Africa, Australia). On the export side, India is a major refined petroleum exporter (Reliance Jamnagar, Nayara Vadinar), the world's largest rice exporter (basmati and non-basmati), and a meaningful sugar, soybean meal, and iron ore exporter.
How commodity trade works in India
MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange) and NCDEX host derivatives. SEBI regulates commodity derivatives. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers export-import policy via the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. State trading enterprises, STC, MMTC, IPL, NAFED, handle large strategic procurements (urea, edible oils, pulses) via tender. India's frequent export-restriction shifts (rice, wheat, sugar) make it a swing producer that materially moves global prices.
Trading with India counterparties
Standard payment: SBLC or LC at sight. The IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) is mandatory. EPCG and Advance Authorisation schemes affect duty calculations. Dispute resolution: typically via the International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) or Mumbai-seated arbitration; GAFTA awards enforce well in Indian courts.
Trading in India.
- Major ports
- Mumbai (Nhava Sheva)
- Mundra
- Chennai
- Visakhapatnam
- Kandla
- Paradip
- Free trade zones
- Kandla Special Economic Zone
- SEEPZ Mumbai
- Visakhapatnam SEZ
- Cochin SEZ
- Key regulations
- India's commodity trade is overseen by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Import duties on gold and crude oil are significant revenue instruments, and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulates commodity derivatives trading.
Find the exporters and importers in India.
The CTX Directory maps the companies headquartered in India and the ones that buy from it, by commodity and role, with the decision-makers to unlock.
Find your counterparties in India.
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