CHANGING PATTERN OF INDIA’S MERCHANDISE EXPORTS

Abstract

This paper analyses the trends and patterns in the composition and direction of India’s merchandise exports, over the period 1980 to 2016. The composition of principal exports indicates that the percentage share of primary products has continuously declined over the period and that of manufactured goods started declining in the recent past. This decline is mainly attributable to a notable development experienced by the exports of petroleum products whose share in the total exports of India increased substantially over the period. Further, the analysis of the direction of India’s exports revealed a market orientation towards the OPEC and developing countries, especially of South Asia, South East Asia, and Africa.