India’s trade relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan are expected to come under strain due to Turkey backing Islamabad and condemning India’s recent strikes on terror camps in Pakistan. According to Export Genius, India’s total trade with Turkey stood at USD 8.7 billion and with Azerbaijan was USD 848.8 million in 2024. This article explains India’s ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan amid tensions with Pakistan.
Here are a few questions and answers (Q&A) explaining the impact of these developments on India’s trade ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Q: Why India’s ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan may come under strain?
A: The two countries have criticised India’s strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Islamabad has also used Turkish drones in the conflict.
Q: What is the total trade of India with Turkey and Azerbaijan?
A: India exported goods to Turkey worth USD 6 billion in 2024, and imported goods from Turkey worth USD 2.7 billion. Yearly trends of India’s trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan are visualized below.
| Year | India’s Exports to Turkey | India’s Imports from Turkey |
| 2020 | 3.6 | 1.3 |
| 2021 | 5.6 | 1.8 |
| 2022 | 9.2 | 3.8 |
| 2023 | 7.5 | 3.9 |
| 2024 | 6.0 | 2.7 |
| 2025 (Jan-Apr) | 2.0 | 0.6 |
******Value USD Billion
As compared to Turkey, India has low trade with Azerbaijan. India’s exports to Azerbaijan totalled USD 97.2 million and imports from Azerbaijan totalled USD 751.6 million in 2024. For better understanding, see data visualization.
| Year | India’s Exports to Azerbaijan | India’s Imports from Azerbaijan |
| 2020 | 55.7 | 474.6 |
| 2021 | 47.6 | 256.2 |
| 2022 | 90.8 | 766.7 |
| 2023 | 101.9 | 280.3 |
| 2024 | 97.2 | 751.6 |
| 2025 (Jan-Apr) | 32.1 | 2.9 |
******Value USD Million
Q: What does India export to Turkey and Azerbaijan?
A: India’s top exports to Turkey in 2024 were aluminium and mobile phones, and to Azerbaijan were mobile phones and other manufactured tobacco products. Find a detailed overview of India’s top export commodities to Turkey and Azerbaijan here.
| India’s Exports to Turkey | Value USD Million | India’s Exports to Azerbaijan | Value USD Million |
| Aluminum, not alloyed, unwrought | 403.7 | Other manufactured tobacco & manufactured tobacco substitutes | 18.8 |
| Mobile Phones | 313.0 | Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed | 11.3 |
| Aircraft, other than those heading 8802 | 241.9 | Mobile Phones | 10.1 |
| Parts & accessories of motor vehicles headings 8701 to 8705 | 216.9 | Stoneware & porcelain tableware & kitchenware | 5.9 |
| Motor vehicles for transport goods, with GVW exceeding 5 tons but not exceeding 20 tons | 119.9 | Other medicaments excluding those heading 3004 | 4.5 |
Q: What does India import from Turkey and Azerbaijan?
A: India’s top imports from Turkey in 2024 were gold in unwrought form and petroleum products, and from Azerbaijan were petroleum products and iodine. Here is a list of India’s top 5 import commodities from Turkey and Azerbaijan.
| India’s Imports from Turkey | Value USD Million | India’s Imports from Azerbaijan | Value USD Million |
| Gold in unwrought form | 407.3 | Petroleum oils & oils obtained from bituminous minerals | 744.1 |
| Petroleum oils & oils obtained from bituminous minerals | 359.5 | Iodine | 4.1 |
| Granulated slag sand from manufacture of iron or steel | 198.5 | Bovine leather, in dry state (crust), not further prepared after tanning or crusting, without hair on. | 2.7 |
| Aircraft, other than those heading 8802, powered by gas turbines | 157.5 | Bentonite | 0.2 |
| Apples, fresh | 96.3 | Other plants & parts including seeds & fruits, used primarily in perfumery, pharmacy, or for insecticidal | 0.2 |
Q: What kind of people-to-people ties exist between India and these two nations?
A: There are currently around 3,000 estimated Indian nationals in Turkey, including 200 students. Similarly, the Indian community in Azerbaijan comprises more than 1,500 people.
Q: How many Indian tourists visit Turkey and Azerbaijan?
A: As per estimates, about 3 lakh Indian tourists visited Turkey in 2023, and over 2 lakh to Azerbaijan.
On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The conflict saw Pakistan use Turkish drones in a failed attempt to strike Indian military sites.
On May 10, both nations agreed to cease all military actions across land, air, and sea from 5 PM onwards.
The Bottom Line
India’s trade and diplomatic relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan have been strained due to their support for Pakistan. Trade between India and Turkey would certainly decline. The situation underscores the complex interplay between geopolitics and international trade.
