India is expected to extend a key support scheme for export credit to boost its export sector, which has been hit hard by a slowdown in developed countries. The commerce and industry ministry has proposed an extension of the interest equalisation scheme beyond June 30, providing a 3% benefit for manufacturer micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and a 2% incentive for exporters of 410 identified tariff lines.

India’s goods exports in FY24 were $437.1 billion and imports were $675.4 billion. The ministry has been developing standard operating procedures to negotiate free trade agreements with other countries and could come up for discussion, said another person aware of the meeting. Exporters are also likely to take up the issue of extending the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to leather intensive sectors such as leather and footwear.

Indian buyers purchased a record 500,000 metric tons of sunflower oil in June due to competitive pricing against soyoil and palm oil from leading suppliers Russia and Ukraine. The war has lead to reduced inventories in the Black Sea region. The lower prices for sunflower oil were attributed to aggressive competition from Russia, Ukraine, and Argentina, with sunflower oil trading at a discount to soyoil and palm oil, prompting Indian buyers to pivot towards sunflower oil amidst robust demand in southern states.

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The CII called for a review of trade ties with China due to the country’s reliance on electronics components imports, posing a risk to domestic manufacturing sustainability.

India’s oil imports from Russia hit a record high of 2.1 million bpd in May as discounts widened due to lower demand from China. Some European nations avoided Russian oil after the Ukraine invasion, making Russian oil cheaper than similar grades from the Middle East.