Trading links between India and Australia can be traced back to the East India Company. Australia’s first commercial export was a shipment of coal to India in 1801. Coking coal and Gold have become important components of Australia’s trade with India today.

Formal trade relations between India and Australia are covered by a trade agreement signed in 1976, which aims at facilitating, diversifying and strengthening trade ties between the two countries. A Joint Ministerial Commission and a Joint Business Council was established which meets annually to discuss bilateral trade developments.

The bilateral trade between India and Australia during the fiscal year 2004-05 touched a record A$ 7.25 billion. The value of total trade saw an increase of nearly 23.7 % or A$ 1.39 billion over the corresponding figure of A$ 5.86 billion in 2003-04.

India’s exports to Australia are very diverse but their volumes are not very large. India traditionally exports textiles and clothing to Australia. Main items are pearls, precious, semi-precious stones, Made-up articles -Textile materials, Floor coverings, Jewellery, Textile yarn, crustaceans (sea food), engineering goods/ manufactures, manufactures of base metal, Footwear, travel goods & handbags, Women's or girls', clothing, Men’s or boys' clothing, and other commodities include chemicals and related products, plantation & agricultural products. India’s exports to Australia in 2004-05 were A$ 1.22 billion or 22 % higher than the corresponding figure of A$ 999.7 million in 2003-04.

India’s imports from Australia are confined to a smaller range of mainly primary commodities such as Non-monetary gold, coal (coking), wool, Copper & concentrates, Silver and Non ferrous metal scrap. India’s imports also include chickpeas, dried fruits, peas, pulses, apples and manufactured items. India’s imports from Australia recorded A$ 6.05 billion or 24 % higher than the 2003-04 figure of A$ 4.87 billion. In 2004-05, the balance of trade at A$ 4.82 billion was in Australia’s favour.

In 2004-05 ( July - June) India ranked 6th in Australia’s export market. India’s share of Australia’s total exports was 4.8% for that period. India’s share of Australia’s total imports was 0.8% and ranked 25th as an import source during the same period. India ranked 12th as Australia’s trading partner during the year 2004-05 with amarket share of 2.6%.

Indian Exports To Australia

Fruit & Nuts, Fresh or Dried, Cashew Nuts, Kernels, Tea, Coffee, Spices, Rice, Pepper, Processed Foods– pickles, chutneys, Gherkins, Marine Products- ribbon, prawn, cuttle, shrimp. Minerals -Quartz, Graphite, Garnet, Emery, Mica Slate, Granite, Marble, Sandstone blocks / tiles, Iron Ore Pellets and Lumps. Organo-Inorganic Chemicals, Organic Chemicals, Metallic Salts & Peroxysalts. Synthetic Organic Colouring Matter, Dyes, Pigments, Pharma Preps & Formulations.

PVC Floor Coverings, Sack & Bags of PP And HDPE, Sheets of and Films of Plastics. Leather -Finished, Travel Goods, Handbags, Wallets and Purses, Footwear, Saddlery & Harness, Rubber Manufactures, Hot Water Bottles, Gloves & Aprons. Furniture and components.
Textile Yarn, Cotton, Polyester, Viscose Rayon. Yarn, Jute & products, hessian sacks, sacking, Threads, Cotton Grey Fabrics, Cotton Fabrics - Handloom, Textile Fabrics, Woven, Clothing, Males’, Females’ etc Clothing, Of Textile Fabrics, Silk Fabrics, Scarves & Stoles, Made-Up Textile Articles , table linen, furnishing , Terry Towels , Towelling, Floor Coverings, Carpets -Handloom, Floor Rugs, Dhurries, Handicrafts- Artware - Copper, Brass , Pottery .

Pearls & Precious Stones, Diamonds, Jewelllery.

Non-Metallic Mineral Manufactures, Tubes, Pipes Etc of Iron/Steel, Hand or Machine Tools & Accessories, Household Metal Equipment, Metal Manufactures- Stainless steel utensils, Auto Parts, General Industrial Machinery , Electrical Machinery, - motors etc .Sporting Goods, Cricket Equip, Balls Inflatable, Soccer, Rugby, Toys, Games etc.

India’s imports from Australia

Peas, Chickpeas Etc, Almonds, Sunflower Seed Oil, Wool , Cotton, Non-monetary gold, Silver Platinum, Nickel Ores & Conc, Non –ferrous Metal Waste & Scrap, Copper, Copper ores & Conc. Aluminium, Brass, Lead and Ores & Conc , Coal – Coking, Coal – Thermal, Carbon Black - Rubber Industry, Plastics, In Primary Forms, Chemicals & Related Products, Hides & Skins, Bovine, Sheep, Lamb Etc, Newsprint , Paper & Paper Board Etc, Flat Rolled Iron & Steel, Waste and Scrap of Iron and Steel, Civil Engineering Equipment, Office Machine Parts, Telecom Equipment, Photo Optical Equipment , Photographic supplies, Machinery & Transport Equipment. More recently wines, cheese, fruit juices, apples & mandarins.