India's merchandise exports showed positive growth in December 2025, according to official data released on Thursday. The figures reveal a 1.87% year-on-year increase, bringing total exports to $38.5 billion for the month.
Imports Outpace Exports, Widening Trade Gap
While exports grew, imports rose at a faster rate of 8.7% during December. This surge pushed import values to $63.55 billion. The higher import bill resulted in a trade deficit of $25.04 billion for the month.
This represents a marginal widening compared to previous months. The deficit stood at $24.53 billion in November 2025 and was significantly lower at $22 billion in December 2024.
Nine-Month Performance Shows Steady Growth
Looking at the broader picture, India's export performance remains encouraging. For the April-December period of fiscal year 2026, merchandise exports reached $330.29 billion. This marks a 2.44% growth compared to the same period last year.
Imports during these nine months totaled $578.61 billion, showing a 5.9% increase. The cumulative trade deficit for the period stood at $248.32 billion.
Key Sectors and Markets Driving Growth
Several sectors contributed significantly to December's export performance. Engineering goods, electronics, marine products and pharmaceuticals emerged as the key drivers of growth according to the official data.
Exports to major international markets also showed positive trends. Steady growth was recorded in shipments to the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates.
Government Optimistic About Full-Year Performance
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal briefed media representatives on the data. He expressed satisfaction with India's export performance despite global economic uncertainties.
"India's exports have continued to post positive growth despite global economic uncertainties," Agrawal stated. "Going by the trend, we expect that the total exports (goods and services) are likely to cross $850 billion this fiscal."
The government's projection suggests confidence in maintaining the current growth trajectory through the remainder of the fiscal year.
