India’s total exports in April 2026 grew by 13.6% year-on-year to $80.8 billion, despite disruptions in global markets due to tensions in West Asia. Goods exports hit a record $43.56 billion, up from $38.28 billion a year earlier. Services exports also saw growth, reaching $37.2 billion compared to $32.8 billion in the previous year.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal highlighted the resilience of India’s exports amid regional conflicts and trade challenges. He mentioned that India’s strategy of diversifying into new markets and products has supported this growth. Agrawal expressed confidence that despite high crude oil prices, India’s export competitiveness remains intact.
In April 2026, India’s overall imports rose to $88.6 billion from $82.3 billion in the same period last year. Goods imports increased to $71.9 billion, while services imports slightly decreased to $16.66 billion. This led to a marginal widening of the merchandise trade deficit to $28.4 billion from $27.1 billion in April 2025.
The United States remained India’s top export destination, with China being the primary source of imports. Government officials emphasized India’s success in offsetting geopolitical conflicts by exploring new markets. India introduced 1,821 new product-country export combinations in FY26 as part of its strategy to diversify exports.
Notably, gold imports surged to $5.63 billion in April 2026, driven by higher unit prices. However, import volumes declined during the fiscal year, despite the overall increase in import value. The government cautioned that increased import duties on gold and silver could impact consumption patterns in the future.
