India has overtaken China in exports growth rate recording an increase of 16.1% in 2011, topping the list of all major trading countries in the world, says a WTO report. “India had the fastest export growth among major traders in 2011, with shipments rising 16.1 per cent. Meanwhile, China had the second-fastest export growth of any major economy at 9.3% ,” World Trade Report 2012 of WTO said.
In 2010, China topped the list with shipment growth rate of 28.4%, while India recorded an increase of 22%.
According to experts, the Indian government’s and exporters endeavour of diversification of export markets have benefitted the country’s shipments.
“Mainly the diversification of markets to Middle East countries, South East Asia and China have yielded good results for Indian exports,” Director of the country’s prestigious Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) K T Chaco said.
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) president Rafeeq Ahmed also said market and product diversification strategy have yielded positive results.
After the economic slowdown in the India’s traditional export markets – the US and Europe, the government had extended incentives to exporters to explore new markets, including in regions like Latin America and Africa.
In 2011, world merchandise trade volume grew by 5%, while “Asia’s 6.6% increase led all regions”, the report said.
Further, it said that in commercial services exports, the European Union tops the chart with $789 billion worth of shipments, 24.8% of the world total.
It was followed by the US ($578 billion, 18.2%), China ($182 billion, 5.7%), India ($148 billion, 4.7%) and Japan ($143 billion, 4.5 %).
