New Delhi: India’s merchandise exports to Australia continued a steady upward trend in 2024-25, delivering an 8% year-on-year increase as the interim Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement celebrates three years since entering into force on December 29, 2022.
In a post on social media platform X, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the pact has “translated intent into impact”, offering sustained export growth, deeper market access and stronger supply-chain resilience for Indian exporters, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), farmers and workers.
A key milestone in the agreement will take effect from January 1, 2026, when 100% of Australian tariff lines will be zero-duty for Indian exports. This effectively gives duty-free access to Indian goods across all product categories, unlocking fresh opportunities for manufacturing, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, petroleum products, and gems and jewellery.
Industry data show that goods ranging from agricultural produce — including fruits, vegetables and spices — to manufactured items such as coffee and pharma products have registered notable growth in shipments to Australia. A mutual recognition arrangement on organic products signed by the two governments has further eased trade in certification-dependent goods.
Trade analysts say the pact has strengthened supply-chain linkages and improved predictability for Indian exporters targeting the Australian market, particularly in labour-intensive sectors where tariff concessions have enhanced competitiveness. Msme exporters have lauded the extension of duty concessions, while agricultural traders point to burgeoning demand for Indian produce Down Under.
The ECTA, India’s first free trade agreement with a developed economy in over a decade, has also laid groundwork for future talks on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which negotiators hope will broaden scope beyond merchandise to services, investments and broader economic cooperation.
With trade pacts now central to India’s export diversification strategy — amid rising global protectionism and slowing demand in traditional markets — the 3-year anniversary of the India-Australia ECTA underscores New Delhi’s push to widen market access and bolster export-led growth.