International Trade | Class 12 Geography Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 3 min read
International Trade – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of International Trade from Class 12 Geography, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Changing Pattern of the Composition of India's Exports
The composition of India's exports has undergone significant changes from 2015-16 to 2021-22. Agriculture and allied products, once a major export category, have seen a slight decline in their share, from 12.6% in 2015-16 to 11.9% in 2021-22. Similarly, manufactured goods, which constitute the largest share of exports, decreased from 72.9% to 67.8% during the same period. Conversely, crude and petroleum products have increased their share from 11.9% to 16.4%, reflecting the rising importance of energy exports. Ore and minerals have remained relatively constant, fluctuating around 2%. The decline in traditional agricultural exports such as cashew nuts is offset by growth in floricultural products, fresh fruits, marine products, and sugar. Engineering goods within the manufacturing sector have shown significant growth, although India faces stiff competition from China and other East Asian countries. Gems and jewellery continue to be a vital part of India's export basket. These shifts indicate a diversification and modernization of India's export profile, adapting to global market demands and competitive pressures.
📊 Diagram: Table 8.2 presents the percentage share of various commodity groups in India's exports from 2015-16 to 2021-22, showing the trends and shifts in export composition.
🧪 Activity: Draw a bar diagram showing the trends of exports of all items given in Table 8.2 and select major commodities exported in 2021-22 from Table 8.3 for bar diagram representation.
🔗 Connection: Prepares for understanding the changing patterns in the composition of India's imports.
Frequently asked questions
Choose the right answers of the following from the given options. (i) Trade between two countries is termed as (a) Internal trade (b) External trade (c) International trade (d) Local trade (ii) Which one of the following is a land locked harbour? (a) Vishakhapatnam (b) Mumbai (c) Kamarajar (Ennore) (d) Haldia (iii) Most of India's foreign trade is carried through (a) Land and sea (b) Land and air (c) Sea and air (d) Sea
Answers: (i) (c) International trade Explanation: Trade between two countries is called international trade because it involves exchange of goods and services across international borders.
(ii) (d) Haldia Explanation: Haldia is a land locked harbour because it is located inland and connected to the sea via rivers or canals, unlike coastal ports.
(iii) (d) Sea Explanation: Most of India's foreign trade is carried through sea routes due to cost effectiveness and capacity advantages.
Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) Mention the characteristics of India's foreign trade. (ii) Distinguish between port and harbour. (iii) Explain the meaning of hinterland. (iv) Name important items which India imports from different countries. (v) Name the ports of India located on the east coast.
(i) Characteristics of India's foreign trade include a diverse range of export and import items, dependence on sea routes, growing trade volume, and increasing trade partners.
(ii) Port is a place where ships load and unload goods and passengers; harbour is a sheltered area of water near the coast where ships can anchor safely.
(iii) Hinterland refers to the inland area served by a port or harbour for trade and commerce.
(iv) India imports crude oil, gold, electronic goods, machinery, and che
Answer the following questions in about 150 words. (i) Describe the composition of export and import trade of India. (ii) Write a note on the changing nature of the international trade of India.
(i) Composition of export and import trade of India: India's exports include petroleum products, gems and jewellery, textiles, engineering goods, chemicals, and agricultural products. Imports mainly consist of crude oil, gold, electronic goods, machinery, and chemicals. The trade basket is diverse, reflecting India's industrial and agricultural sectors, and the demand for raw materials and capital goods.
(ii) Changing nature of international trade of India: India's international trade has evolv
What is international trade?
Exchange of goods and services between countries
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Clear NCERT-aligned notes on computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database for Class 12 Geography.