India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. The official theme of the summit is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” Top leaders from all member countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are participating in the summit. BRICS is a powerful international grouping of major emerging economies. The concept of “BRIC”—comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China was introduced in 2001 by renowned economist Jim O’Neill. The grouping was formally established in 2006, and it became BRICS after South Africa joined in 2010.
Its primary objectives include promoting trade, technological development and investment among member countries. India’s hosting of the BRICS Summit is a significant opportunity for the country. The two-day gathering in New Delhi is bringing together dignitaries from all 11 member countries, including India, Russia and China, to discuss the future direction and priorities of the grouping. From an economic and trade perspective, BRICS has become increasingly important for India. According to an economic research report, trade among BRICS countries returned to a growth path during the first half of 2026.
The combined merchandise trade of the 11 countries stood at around $5.8 trillion, with exports accounting for approximately $3.2 trillion and imports around $2.6 trillion. However, the trade relationship presents a significant challenge for India. BRICS has emerged as a larger source of imports for India than an export market. During the first six months of 2026, India sent only around 20 per cent of its total merchandise exports to the other 10 BRICS countries, while approximately 43 per cent of its total imports came from them.
India’s imports from BRICS countries rose by 13.5 per cent to $178 billion, whereas exports increased by only 4.6 per cent to $48 billion. As a result, India’s trade deficit with the grouping widened by 17.2 per cent to nearly $130 billion. China continues to dominate trade within the BRICS grouping. During the first half of 2026, China accounted for around 66 per cent of total BRICS exports and 59 per cent of imports. In comparison, India’s share stood at approximately 8 per cent of exports and 16 per cent of imports.
The trade patterns also highlight the importance of China’s economic position within BRICS. Between January and June, China’s largest export destination among the BRICS countries was India, accounting for around 26 per cent of its exports to the grouping. At the same time, Russia remained a major source of Chinese imports, accounting for approximately 28 per cent of China’s imports from BRICS countries.
The rising trade among BRICS nations is encouraging, but for India, the challenge is not merely to increase the volume of trade. The greater priority is to create a more balanced trade structure. China’s growing dominance within the grouping and India’s widening trade deficit underline the need for greater market access for Indian products and stronger export competitiveness.
The BRICS Summit therefore provides India with an important platform to address these economic concerns and strengthen its trade and investment relationships with member countries. Greater market access, diversification of exports and efforts to reduce the trade imbalance can help India derive greater economic benefits from the grouping. Overall, hosting the BRICS Summit is a matter of great pride for India. It demonstrates the country’s growing importance on the global economic and diplomatic stage and provides India with valuable opportunities to strengthen its international trade presence and deepen economic cooperation with emerging economies.
Writer Is A Former Vice Chairman Punjab School Education Board And A Doctorate In International Business ,Currently Working As Principal Slbawa Dav College Batala Punjab 9530659393
The views in the article are purely of writer.