India’s merchandise exports registered a strong growth of 23.04 per cent in September 2026, rising to USD 44.40 billion from USD 36.08 billion in the corresponding month last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.
The merchandise trade deficit narrowed to USD 30.21 billion in September, compared with USD 33 billion a year ago, even as imports increased to USD 74.61 billion from USD 69.08 billion.
India’s overall exports, including merchandise and services, grew by 10.99 per cent to an estimated USD 80.75 billion during September, against USD 72.76 billion in the same month last year.
Total imports rose to USD 94.05 billion from USD 86.93 billion. However, the combined trade deficit narrowed to USD 13.30 billion from USD 14.17 billion a year earlier.
Merchandise Shipments Drive Export Growth
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said merchandise shipments were the key driver of export growth in September.
“If you look at merchandise exports in September, they are at USD 44.40 billion, which is 23.04 per cent higher than last September,” he said during a press briefing.
The growth was supported by higher shipments of electronic goods, petroleum products, engineering goods, chemicals and agricultural products.
Overall Export Growth Accelerates in Second Quarter
Agrawal said India’s overall export growth accelerated in the second quarter of the current financial year compared with the first quarter.
“The second quarter has outperformed the first quarter of this transition year, and the second quarter’s overall export growth has been 15.84 per cent. In the first quarter, overall export growth was 11.84 per cent,” he said.
According to the Ministry’s presentation, India’s overall exports reached an estimated USD 242.6 billion during July-September 2026, compared with USD 233.6 billion in April-June.
The July-September figure was the highest-ever export value recorded for the second quarter, the presentation stated.
The latest figures point to stronger merchandise shipments and improved overall export performance during the second quarter of the current financial year, while the combined trade deficit narrowed year-on-year in September.
-ANI
