New Delhi: India’s cumulative exports of merchandise and services grew 11.37% year-on-year to an estimated USD 232.73 billion during the first quarter of 2026-27, driven by strong growth in merchandise exports, particularly engineering goods, gems and jewellery, electronic goods, organic and inorganic chemicals, and rice.
According to data released by the Commerce Ministry, total exports stood at USD 208.98 billion during the April-June period of 2025-26.
Merchandise exports rose 15.92% to USD 129.32 billion during April-June 2026-27 from USD 111.57 billion a year earlier. Non-petroleum exports also increased 12.44% to USD 106.30 billion, according to an official statement.
In June 2026 alone, India’s total exports, including merchandise and services, were estimated at USD 73.45 billion, up 9.48% from the corresponding month last year. Total imports during the month increased 26.85% to USD 88.76 billion.
Merchandise exports in June climbed to USD 40.41 billion, compared with USD 34.98 billion in June 2025. Merchandise imports rose to USD 70.84 billion from USD 54.08 billion a year earlier.
Engineering goods remained the biggest contributor to export growth in June, with shipments rising 20.74% to USD 11.48 billion. Gems and jewellery exports surged 34.64% to USD 2.41 billion, while electronic goods exports increased 18.93% to USD 4.93 billion. Exports of organic and inorganic chemicals grew 19.42% to USD 2.77 billion, and rice exports rose 16.48% to USD 1 billion.
Several other sectors also posted strong growth during June, including other cereals, handicrafts, meat, dairy and poultry products, iron ore, plastics and linoleum, tobacco, marine products, petroleum products, drugs and pharmaceuticals, cotton yarn and fabrics, processed food items, man-made yarn and fabrics, and fruits and vegetables.
During the April-June period, merchandise imports increased to USD 216.18 billion from USD 180.31 billion a year ago. As a result, the merchandise trade deficit widened to USD 86.86 billion, compared with USD 68.75 billion in the same period last year.
Services exports also registered growth during the quarter. Estimated services exports for April-June 2026-27 reached USD 103.41 billion, up from USD 97.41 billion in the corresponding period last year. Services imports stood at USD 53.97 billion, resulting in a services trade surplus of USD 49.43 billion.
Overall imports, including merchandise and services, were estimated at USD 270.15 billion during April-June 2026-27, registering a growth of 17.55% over the same period last year.
Among export destinations, Singapore, Tanzania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and China recorded the highest value growth during the April-June quarter. On the import side, Russia, China, Oman, the US, and Brazil emerged as the fastest-growing sources of imports during the period.
