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Export to Canada

Large Indian diaspora market. Importer needs a CFIA licence for food; labels in English and French.

Capital
Ottawa
Currency
CAD
Trade agreement with India
India–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (under negotiation)
Not in force yetNot in force
Main ports
Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal

Canada has a large, growing Indian community, especially around Toronto and Vancouver, which drives demand for Indian groceries, spices, rice, sweets and clothing. It also buys medicines, chemicals, machinery and jewellery. Food rules are close to US rules but with their own licence system and bilingual labels.

India–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (under negotiation)

There is no trade agreement in force; normal Canadian duties apply. India and Canada relaunched CEPA negotiations with agreed terms of reference in 2026, and rounds were continuing in September–October 2026. Confirm current status on commerce.gov.in.

What it buys from India

  • Medicines, chemicals and machinery
  • Gems, jewellery and garments
  • Rice, spices, processed food and marine products
  • Home textiles and iron and steel articles

Import rules on their side

  • Food importers must hold a Safe Food for Canadians licence from the CFIA and have preventive controls; you will be asked for your food-safety records.
  • Consumer packaging must be labelled in both English and French, with Canadian nutrition and allergen rules.
  • Check CFIA's Automated Import Reference System for plant and animal products — some need permits or certificates.

Practical tips

  • Indian grocery distributors in Brampton, Mississauga and Surrey are the easiest first buyers.
  • SIAL Canada (Montreal/Toronto) is the main food show.
  • Sea freight to Toronto often goes via US East Coast ports or Montreal; compare routes and transit times.
Sources (5)
  1. PIB backgrounder — India's Trade Partnerships (27 Feb 2026)
  2. All India Radio News — India and Canada begin next round of trade talks (15 Sep 2026)
  3. Canadian Food Inspection Agency — food imports
  4. Canada Border Services Agency — importing
  5. Department of Commerce — TradeStat export-import data bank

Trade data

India’s exports to Canada in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat (Indian financial years, April–March), the country’s imports from the world from UN Comtrade, and its basics from the World Bank.

India’s exports here, 2025-26
US$ 4.67 bn
No. 21 of our 30 countries
Change from 2024-25
↑ +10.6%
US$ 4.22 bn → US$ 4.67 bn
Share of all Indian exports
1.06%
Its imports from the world
US$ 560 bn
2024 · India’s share 1.07%
2020-21: US$ 2.96 bn3.0k2020-212021-22: US$ 3.76 bn3.8k2021-222022-23: US$ 4.11 bn4.1k2022-23n/a2023-242024-25: US$ 4.22 bn4.2k2024-252025-26: US$ 4.67 bn4.7k2025-26
India’s exports to Canada, year by year · US$ million · TradeStat’s 2023-24 country table is double-counted, so it is not shown

What India sells here most

By HS chapter, 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1Medicines and pharmaHS 30US$ 548 mn+1.5%
2Gems, jewellery, precious metalsHS 71US$ 380 mn+81.7%
3MachineryHS 84US$ 379 mn+24.8%
4Iron and steel articlesHS 73US$ 293 mn+1%
5Organic chemicalsHS 29US$ 234 mn-2.7%
6Electrical and electronicsHS 85US$ 226 mn-14.8%
7PlasticsHS 39US$ 172 mn+34.9%
8Fish and seafoodHS 03US$ 165 mn+14.2%
9Vehicles and partsHS 87US$ 153 mn+22%
10Home textiles, made-upsHS 63US$ 153 mn-9.8%
11Knitted garmentsHS 61US$ 125 mn-0.7%
12Cereals (rice, wheat, maize)HS 10US$ 114 mn+5.5%

What is rising and what is falling

Chapters where India sells at least US$ 5 million. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. Gums, resins, plant extractsUS$ 25.9 mn → US$ 57.4 mn+121.5%
  2. Gems, jewellery, precious metalsUS$ 209 mn → US$ 380 mn+81.7%
  3. Tools and cutleryUS$ 13.7 mn → US$ 24.6 mn+79.2%
  4. Other chemical productsUS$ 33 mn → US$ 54.6 mn+65.4%
  5. PlasticsUS$ 128 mn → US$ 172 mn+34.9%
  6. Instruments, medical devicesUS$ 33.4 mn → US$ 42.3 mn+26.6%
  7. Essential oils, cosmeticsUS$ 26.4 mn → US$ 33.3 mn+26.3%
  8. MachineryUS$ 304 mn → US$ 379 mn+24.8%

Low demand

  1. AluminiumUS$ 92.8 mn → US$ 76.5 mn-17.6%
  2. Electrical and electronicsUS$ 265 mn → US$ 226 mn-14.8%
  3. Bakery and cereal foodsUS$ 50.7 mn → US$ 45.2 mn-10.8%

Opportunity: what this country buys from the world, and from India

The country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, 2024. Chapters with the biggest gap between what it buys from the world and what it buys from India.

Vehicles and partsUS$ 91.1 bnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 90.9 bn
MachineryUS$ 83.8 bnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 83.2 bn
Electrical and electronicsUS$ 52.5 bnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 52.1 bn
Fuels and petroleum productsUS$ 36.2 bnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 36.1 bn
PlasticsUS$ 19.7 bnIndia 0.6% · gap US$ 19.5 bn
Medicines and pharmaUS$ 19.5 bnIndia 3.2% · gap US$ 18.9 bn
Gems, jewellery, precious metalsUS$ 19.1 bnIndia 2% · gap US$ 18.7 bn
Instruments, medical devicesUS$ 15.8 bnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 15.7 bn
Iron and steel articlesUS$ 12 bnIndia 2.3% · gap US$ 11.8 bn
Furniture, lightingUS$ 9.52 bnIndia 1.1% · gap US$ 9.42 bn

Our product guides that sell here

India’s exports of each product to this country, 2025-26.

Name2025-26Change
1Generic medicines (formulations)US$ 517 mn+4.8%
2Readymade garmentsUS$ 236 mn-3.6%
3Frozen shrimpUS$ 215 mn+16.6%
4Processed foodUS$ 172 mn+0.4%
5Auto parts and componentsUS$ 139 mn+18.2%
6Basmati riceUS$ 101 mn+6.9%
7SpicesUS$ 72.6 mn+9%
8Home textiles (bed, bath and kitchen linen)US$ 59.5 mn-4%
9Handloom productsUS$ 54.2 mn-20.6%
10Iron and steel castingsUS$ 49.5 mn-14%
11Fresh vegetablesUS$ 47.6 mn-4.9%
12Carpets and rugsUS$ 38.6 mn+2.9%

The 20 biggest export lines

4-digit HS lines, 2025-26, with their Harmonized System descriptions.

Name2025-26Change
1MedicamentsHS 3004US$ 517 mn+4.8%
2Jewellery articles and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metalHS 7113US$ 163 mn+7.5%
3CrustaceansHS 0306US$ 158 mn+14.9%
4Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted or setHS 7102US$ 146 mn+316.2%
5Motor vehiclesHS 8708US$ 139 mn+18.2%
6RiceHS 1006US$ 112 mn+5%
7New pneumatic tyres, of rubberHS 4011US$ 77.5 mn+10.7%
8Heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen hetero-atom onlyHS 2933US$ 73.5 mn-13.4%
9Food preparations not elsewhere specified or includedHS 2106US$ 64 mn+0.8%
10Iron or steelHS 7306US$ 59.9 mn+17.2%
11Bed linen, table linen, toilet linen and kitchen linenHS 6302US$ 59.5 mn-4%
12Articles of plastics and articles of other materials of heading no. 3901 to 3914 in chapter 39HS 3926US$ 57.4 mn+32.8%
13Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preservedHS 1605US$ 57.3 mn+20.2%
14Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, including…HS 8481US$ 56.1 mn+14.8%
15Vegetable saps and extractsHS 1302US$ 54.2 mn+126.3%
16Furnishing articlesHS 6304US$ 54.2 mn-20.6%
17Iron or steelHS 7325US$ 49.5 mn-14%
18Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of iron or steelHS 7304US$ 49.1 mn+38.4%
19Suits, ensembles, jackets, dresses, skirts, divided skirts, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and…HS 6204US$ 46 mn-1.6%
20Transmission shafts and cranksHS 8483US$ 44.2 mn-12.2%

What India buys from Canada

India’s imports from this country in 2025-26 by HS chapter, from TradeStat — this country can be your supplier too.

India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 3.28 bn
US$ 4.45 bn → US$ 3.28 bn
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 4.67 bn
Trade balance
+US$ 1.39 bn
exports minus imports
Change in imports
-26.1%
Name2025-26Change
1VegetablesHS 07—-34.9%
2Fuels and petroleum productsHS 27—-46.7%
3AircraftHS 88—+98.1%
4FertilisersHS 31—-29.9%
5PulpHS 47—-32.2%
6Gems, jewellery, precious metalsHS 71—-61.4%
7OresHS 26—-26.2%
8MachineryHS 84—-23.4%
9Iron and steelHS 72—-15.5%
10Paper and paperboardHS 48—-27.6%

The country at a glance

Population
41.7 mn
2025
GDP
US$ 2,319.9 bn
2025
GDP per person
US$ 55,698
2025
Imports (goods and services)
US$ 746.5 bn
2025

Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · World Bank — World Development Indicators · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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