This article covers trade and economic links between India and Djibouti: historical trade, trade figures for recent years, the main goods traded, ministerial participation in trade and energy events in India, and the India-Djibouti Business Forum. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026, and all figures are as the brief gives them.

The brief records that Indian seafarers and traders from Gujarat and Kerala frequently visited the port of Adulis, trading in spices and silk for gold and ivory, in a period of contact that predates the independence of both countries.

Total trade

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, total bilateral trade increased from 367.22 million in 2020-21 to 1.25 billion in 2022-23. It stood at 1.16 billion in FY 2023-24 and US$ 695.8 million in FY 2024-25.

Indian exports and imports

The brief gives the two sides of the trade separately:

  • India's exports to Djibouti increased from US$ 347 million in FY 2020-21 to US$ 1.19 billion in FY 2022-23. They stood at US$1.14 billion in FY 2023-24 and US$ 677 million during FY 2024-25.
  • India's imports from Djibouti increased from US$ 20.16 million in FY 2020-21 to US$ 55.88 million in FY 2022-23. They stood at US$ 22.26 million in FY 2023-24 and US$ 18.56 million in FY 2024-25.

Trade in 2025-26

For 2025-26, the brief gives figures for the period from April 2025 to January 2026. As of that period, bilateral trade showed an increase by 34% from the previous corresponding year. Exports from India to Djibouti grew by 34% and exports from Djibouti to India grew by 31 %. The brief cites tradestat.commerce.gov.in as the source.

Goods traded

Exports from India consist mainly of:

  • rice and sugar
  • engineering goods
  • fruits and vegetables
  • paper and plastic products
  • machinery and metals
  • yarns and fabrics
  • pharmaceuticals and food items

Exports from Djibouti consist mainly of wastes and scraps.

The brief adds that, to ensure the food security of Djibouti, India makes special exemptions from time to time from the ban on exports of certain food items, to facilitate commercial exports of rice, sugar, wheat and other items to Djibouti.

Ministerial visits on trade

Mr. Rifki Abdoulkader Bamakhrama, then Minister of Trade & Industry, attended the CII-Exim Bank Meeting in New Delhi from 19-21 March 2008. Minister of Economy, Finance & Industry Mr. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh attended the India-Africa Trade Ministers Meeting, on the margins of IAFS-III in October 2015.

H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh, Minister of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, Livestock and Fisheries Resources of Djibouti, visited India to attend World Food India 2024 in New Delhi in September 2024. He also met the Minister of Food Processing Industries of India on the sidelines of the event.

Energy

Djibouti's Minister of Energy & Natural Resources visited India to participate in the 2nd Session of the International Solar Alliance Assembly from 28 October to 2 November 2019, the 6th Session of the ISA Assembly from 31st October to 2nd November 2023, and the 7th Edition of International Solar Alliance from 3-6 November 2024.

The Minister also participated in India Energy Week 2024, held in Goa from 6-9 February 2024. From 27-30 January 2026, Mr. Wahib Ali Boulo, Director, and Mr. Daoud Farah Arreyeh, Director (Operation), of the International Hydrocarbon company of Djibouti under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Djibouti, attended the 4th Edition of India Energy Week 2026 held in Goa, India.

India-Djibouti Business Forum

The Djibouti-India Business Forum was launched simultaneously in Djibouti city and New Delhi on 17 October 2023. The 3rd India-Djibouti Business Forum was held in November 2025. The brief describes the Forum as a platform dedicated to strengthening economic ties between the two countries.