India’s total exports, including merchandise and services, were estimated at $80.80 billion in April 2026, compared with $71.13 billion in April 2025, marking a growth of 13.59%, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Friday, 15 May.
Total imports were estimated at $88.61 billion, compared with $82.29 billion in April 2025, registering a growth of 7.67%.
The combined trade balance for merchandise and services stood at a deficit of $7.81 billion in April 2026, compared with a deficit of $11.16 billion in April 2025.
Merchandise exports stood at $43.56 billion in April 2026, compared with $38.28 billion in April 2025. Merchandise imports were $71.94 billion during the month, compared with $65.38 billion in April 2025.
Non-petroleum exports stood at $33.97 billion in April 2026, against $31.16 billion in April 2025. Non-petroleum imports were $53.32 billion, compared with $44.68 billion a year earlier.
Exports excluding petroleum and gems and jewellery were $31.64 billion in April 2026, compared with $28.66 billion in April 2025.
Imports excluding petroleum, gems and jewellery, including gold, silver and precious metals, stood at $45.87 billion, compared with $39.75 billion in April 2025.
Services exports were estimated at $37.24 billion in April 2026, compared with $32.85 billion in April 2025. Services imports were estimated at $16.66 billion, compared with $16.91 billion in April 2025.
The ministry said services exports are estimated to have grown by 13.36% in April 2026 over April 2025.
The latest services sector data released by the Reserve Bank of India is for March 2026, while the April 2026 services figures are estimates.
Several export categories recorded positive growth in April 2026 over the corresponding month of the previous year.
Other cereals grew by 210.19%, meat, dairy and poultry products by 48.03%, electronic goods by 40.31%, petroleum products by 34.66%, handicrafts excluding handmade carpets by 26.21%, and marine products by 14.74%.
Other categories showing positive growth included mica, coal and other ores and processed minerals at 13.85%, iron ore at 11.46%, oil seeds at 11.32%, carpet at 9.93%, engineering goods at 8.76%, coffee at 7.51%, organic and inorganic chemicals at 7.31%, and drugs and pharmaceuticals at 7.12%.
Plastic and linoleum grew by 5.28%, man-made yarn, fabrics and made-ups by 2.34%, cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom products by 0.57%, and leather and leather products by 0.36%.
On the import side, several categories recorded negative growth in April 2026 over April 2025.
Chemical material and products declined by 35.4%, pulses by 29.69%, pearls and precious and semi-precious stones by 15.96%, newsprint by 12.54%, and petroleum, crude and products by 10.03%.
Other import categories recording negative growth included wood and wood products at 8.36%, textile yarn, fabric and made-up articles at 7.17%, cotton raw and waste at 6.1%, iron and steel at 4.71%, machine tools at 0.73%, and pulp and waste paper at 0.24%.
In terms of change in value, the top 5 export destinations showing positive growth in April 2026 over April 2025 were Singapore at 179.18%, Tanzania at 157.63%, Sri Lanka at 214.65%, Bangladesh at 64.16% and Hong Kong at 90.61%.
The top 5 import sources showing growth during the same period were China at 20.85%, Russia at 18.21%, Oman at 246.42%, Peru at 315.56% and Saudi Arabia at 30.29%.
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