Merchandise
Export in August Stagnant at $44bn but Imports Crash by $6bn to $70.67bn, Gold
Down by $2bn, Electronics $700mn, Petroleum $2.3bn
·
Electronics Export Fall by $363mn or 6.14% in August
·
China, Russia Imports Down as Gulf Oil and Saudi Oil Take Over
Ř
The
cumulative exports (merchandise & services) during April-August 2026-27 is
estimated at US$ 399.27 Billion, as compared to US$ 345.55 Billion in
April-August 2025-26, an estimated growth of 15.55%.
Ř
The
cumulative value of merchandise exports during April-August 2026-27 was US$
215.91 Billion, as compared to US$ 183.21 Billion during April-August 2025-26,
registering a positive growth of 17.85%
Ř
The
cumulative Non-Petroleum exports in April-August 2026-27 valued at US$ 180.61
Billion registered an increase of 14.39% as compared to US$ 157.89 Billion in
April-August 2025-26
Ř
Major
drivers of merchandise exports growth in August 2026 include Electronic Goods,
Petroleum Products, Engineering Goods, Organic & Inorganic Chemicals,
Cotton Yarn/Fabs./made-ups, and Handloom Products etc.
Ř
Electronic
Goods exports increased by 89.82% from US$ 2.93 Billion in August 2025 to US$
5.55 Billion in August 2026
Ř
Petroleum
Products exports increased by 63.27% from US$ 4.17 Billion in August 2025 to
US$ 6.81 Billion in August 2026
Ř
Engineering
Goods exports increased by 24.86% from US$ 9.87 Billion in August 2025 to US$
12.32 Billion in August 2026
Ř
Organic
& Inorganic Chemicals exports increased by 16.38% from US$ 2.41 Billion in
August 2025 to US$ 2.80 Billion in August 2026
Ř
Cotton
Yarn/Fabs./made-ups, Handloom Products exports increased by 13.79% from US$
0.99 Billion in August 2025 to US$ 1.12 Billion in August 2026
1. Overall exports
·
India’s total exports (merchandise + services)
during April–August 2026-27 are estimated at US$399.27 billion.
·
This compares with US$345.55 billion in
April–August 2025-26.
·
Growth: 15.55%.
2. Merchandise exports
·
Merchandise exports rose to US$215.91 billion,
from US$183.21 billion.
·
Growth: 17.85%.
·
Non-petroleum exports reached US$180.61 billion,
up 14.39%.
3. August 2026 exports and imports
·
Total exports: US$82.68 billion, up 25.41%
year-on-year.
·
Total imports: US$92.09 billion, up 18.75%.
·
Total trade deficit narrowed to US$9.41 billion,
compared with US$11.62 billion in August 2025.
|
August |
2025 |
2026 |
Growth |
|
Merchandise exports |
$34.74 bn |
$43.81 bn |
26.13% |
|
Merchandise imports |
$61.96 bn |
$70.67 bn |
14.06% |
|
Services exports* |
$31.19 bn |
$38.87 bn |
24.62% |
|
Services imports* |
$15.59 bn |
$21.42 bn |
37.40% |
|
Total exports* |
$65.93 bn |
$82.68 bn |
25.41% |
|
Total imports* |
$77.55 bn |
$92.09 bn |
18.75% |
*August services figures are
estimates because the latest RBI-released services data was for July 2026.
4. April–August 2026-27 trade position
·
Total exports: US$399.27 billion, +15.55%.
·
Total imports: US$459.65 billion, +18.01%.
·
Overall trade balance: –US$60.38 billion,
compared with –US$43.94 billion a year earlier.
·
Merchandise trade deficit: US$147.09 billion,
versus US$123.88 billion.
5. Major merchandise export growth in August
·
Iron Ore: +126.30%
·
Electronic Goods: +89.82%
·
Petroleum Products: +63.27%
·
Meat, Dairy & Poultry: +37.08%
·
Handicrafts: +29.63%
·
Marine Products: +27.76%
·
Engineering Goods: +24.86%
·
Plastic & Linoleum: +18.92%
·
Coffee: +17.08%
·
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals: +16.38%.
6. Electronics emerge as a major export driver
·
Electronic goods exports increased 89.82%.
·
Value rose from US$2.93 billion in August 2025
to US$5.55 billion in August 2026.
·
Engineering goods increased from US$9.87 billion to
US$12.32 billion, +24.86%.
7. Petroleum products
·
Petroleum-product exports increased 63.27%.
·
Value rose from US$4.17 billion to US$6.81
billion in August 2026.
8. Non-petroleum and non-gems trade
·
August non-petroleum exports: US$37.00 billion,
versus US$30.57 billion.
·
Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery exports: US$34.68
billion, versus US$28.26 billion.
·
April–August non-petroleum, non-gems &
jewellery exports: US$168.69 billion, up from US$146.52 billion.
9. Gold imports fall sharply
·
Gold imports declined 57.75% in August 2026
compared with August 2025.
·
Other import declines included:
o
Pulp & waste paper: –13.83%
o
Iron & steel: –11.69%
o
Newsprint: –10.85%
o
Textile yarn/fabric/made-ups: –8.12%
o
Medical & pharmaceutical products: –7.90%.
10. Services exports
·
August services exports are estimated at US$38.87
billion, versus US$31.19 billion.
·
April–August services exports reached US$183.36
billion, versus US$162.34 billion.
·
Growth during April–August: 12.95%.
·
Services trade surplus increased to US$86.71
billion, from US$79.94 billion.
11. Export destinations showing strong growth
August 2026:
·
Tanzania: +214.52%
·
Spain: +196.47%
·
Singapore: +160.96%
·
China: +52.35%
·
USA: +21.83%.
April–August
2026-27:
·
Tanzania: +129.00%
·
Singapore: +96.56%
·
Malaysia: +75.40%
·
China: +38.71%
·
USA: +6.17%.
12. Import sources showing strong growth
August 2026:
·
Oman: +157.45%
·
Taiwan: +108.31%
·
USA: +65.78%
·
Russia: +43.82%
·
China: +17.07%.
April–August 2026-27:
·
Oman: +190.63%
·
Brazil: +159.83%
·
Russia: +56.69%
·
USA: +29.60%
·
China: +27.01%.
13. Key trade picture
·
Exports are growing strongly, led
particularly by electronics, petroleum products, engineering goods and
chemicals.
·
Services remain a major source of export strength,
generating an $86.71 billion surplus during April–August.
·
However, imports are growing faster than total
exports on a cumulative basis, widening the overall trade deficit to US$60.38
billion.
·
The August monthly trade deficit nevertheless narrowed
to US$9.41 billion from US$11.62 billion.