India’s merchandise exports rise 26.12% to USD 43.81 billion in August
New Delhi, Sept 15 (TNT): India’s merchandise exports grew 26.12 per cent year-on-year to USD 43.81 billion in August 2026, from USD 34.74 billion in the same month last year, according to trade data.
Overall exports of merchandise and services were estimated at USD 82.68 billion in August, registering a 25.41 per cent growth over August 2025.
Merchandise imports stood at USD 70.67 billion during the month, while the merchandise trade deficit narrowed marginally to USD 26.86 billion from USD 27.22 billion in August 2025.
Overall imports of merchandise and services were estimated at USD 92.09 billion, resulting in an overall trade deficit of USD 9.41 billion.
In a statement, FIEO President S C Ralhan said the growth in merchandise exports in August reflected the resilience and competitiveness of Indian exporters, while the expansion of export markets indicated increasing diversification.
During April-August 2026-27, merchandise exports rose 17.85 per cent to USD 215.91 billion, while overall exports of merchandise and services increased 15.55 per cent to USD 399.27 billion. Services exports are estimated to have grown 12.95 per cent during the period.
Exports to BRICS countries increased 13.3 per cent during April-August 2026, while shipments to China rose 38.71 per cent.
Exports to the US grew 6.17 per cent and those to the European Union increased 3.84 per cent.
Ralhan said stronger engagement with BRICS, emerging economies and other high-potential markets would help Indian exporters diversify markets and reduce concentration risks.
The August export growth was supported by engineering goods, petroleum products, electronic goods and chemicals.
Automobile exports increased 22.2 per cent year-on-year, led by two- and three-wheelers, while gems and jewellery exports rose 3.14 per cent to USD 2.30 billion.
The performance of engineering, electronics, chemicals, petroleum products, automobiles and other manufacturing-intensive sectors indicated a broad-based expansion in India’s export basket, Ralhan said.
On the import side, petroleum and energy products, electronic goods and other industrial inputs continued to account for significant demand. Gold imports declined sharply to around USD 2.3 billion during August, helping moderate the merchandise trade deficit.
Ralhan said sustaining export growth would require continued focus on trade finance, logistics and infrastructure, market diversification, ease of doing business and targeted support for MSMEs and emerging exporters.
He said the 17.85 per cent growth in merchandise exports during the first five months of 2026-27 provided a foundation for further expansion during the remainder of the financial year.
TNT KS
