New Delhi, June 15 (IANS). India’s merchandise exports increased by 18 percent year-on-year to $45.2 billion in May. In April it was $43.56 billion. This information was given in the data released by the Commerce Ministry on Monday.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal described May’s merchandise export growth as one of the highest ever recorded.
A sharp increase in merchandise exports was also recorded in April 2026, and it stood at $38.28 billion in April 2025.
The country’s total exports in the month of April-May of the financial year 2026-27 stood at $88.91 billion, which shows an increase of 16.09 percent as compared to the same period last year.
Aggarwal said that India has registered a tremendous increase in exports in both the months of April and May, while there has also been a sharp increase in imports during the same period. “If we maintain this momentum, FY27 will be a good year for business,” he told the media.
Imports increased by 20.62 percent to $73.41 billion in May. Due to this, the trade deficit has been 28.21 billion dollars. At the same time, the trade deficit in May 2025 was $ 22.56 billion, which shows an increase of 25.04 percent on an annual basis.
The increase in trade deficit last month was due to the price of crude oil rising above $100 per barrel due to tensions in West Asia.
Aggarwal also said that exports to the Middle East, which were earlier affected, improved in May. He said exports to West Asia have almost reached the level of May 2025, and the increase is due to goods sent to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Yemen.
The Commerce Secretary further said that if the recently announced US-Iran peace deal “lasts for the long term,” then “many of our problems will be solved.”
Aggarwal said that India’s export base has increased in the last 12 years and exports have almost doubled during this period. He said service exports have tripled over the same period and the government expects this momentum to continue as more free trade agreements are implemented.
“We are hopeful that with the advent of all FTAs, this pace of export growth will continue with renewed vigour,” Agarwal said.
–IANS
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