India’s total exports, including merchandise and services, rose 15.83% year-on-year to an estimated $81.96 billion in May 2026, supported by growth in petroleum products, engineering goods, chemicals, electronics and gems and jewellery, according to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday, 15 June.
The ministry said that total imports during May 2026 were estimated at $92.47 billion, registering a growth of 19.23% compared with May 2025.
The overall trade balance for May 2026 stood at a deficit of $10.51 billion, compared with a deficit of $6.79 billion in May 2025.
Merchandise exports increased to $45.20 billion in May 2026 from $38.30 billion in May 2025.
Merchandise imports rose to $73.41 billion from $60.86 billion during the same period.
Services exports for May 2026 were estimated at $36.76 billion, compared with $32.46 billion in May 2025.
Services imports were estimated at $19.06 billion, against $16.70 billion a year earlier.
During April-May 2026-27, India’s total exports were estimated at $162.69 billion, compared with $141.89 billion in April-May 2025-26, marking a growth of 14.66%.
Total imports during April-May 2026-27 were estimated at $182.83 billion, registering a growth of 14.38% from $159.85 billion in the same period of the previous year.
The overall trade deficit during the two-month period stood at $20.13 billion, compared with $17.96 billion a year earlier.
Merchandise exports during April-May 2026-27 stood at $88.91 billion, compared with $76.59 billion in April-May 2025-26, registering a growth of 16.09%.
Merchandise imports increased to $145.35 billion from $126.24 billion during the same period.
The merchandise trade deficit during April-May 2026-27 widened to $56.44 billion, compared with $49.65 billion in April-May 2025-26.
Non-petroleum exports during April-May 2026-27 were valued at $70.74 billion, up 10.49% from $64.03 billion in the same period of the previous year.
Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports stood at $34.24 billion in May 2026, compared with $30.49 billion in May 2025. During April-May 2026-27, these exports rose to $65.89 billion from $59.15 billion a year earlier.
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Petroleum products were among the major drivers of merchandise export growth in May 2026, rising 54.89% to $8.42 billion from $5.44 billion in May 2025.
Engineering goods exports increased 24.48% to $12.31 billion from $9.89 billion, while organic and inorganic chemicals exports rose 12.71% to $2.72 billion from $2.41 billion.
Electronic goods exports increased 11.62% to $5.10 billion in May 2026 from $4.57 billion in May 2025. Gems and jewellery exports rose 6.66% to $2.53 billion from $2.38 billion.
Other export categories that recorded positive growth in May included other cereals, meat, dairy and poultry products, oil meals, handicrafts, plastic and linoleum, iron ore, drugs and pharmaceuticals, rice, coffee and cotton yarn, fabrics and handloom products.
Services exports during April-May 2026-27 were estimated at $73.79 billion, compared with $65.30 billion in April-May 2025-26. Services imports stood at $37.48 billion, against $33.61 billion a year earlier.
The services trade surplus during April-May 2026-27 was estimated at $36.31 billion, compared with $31.69 billion in the same period last year.
The ministry noted that the latest services sector data released by the RBI is for April 2026, while services data for May 2026 is an estimate.
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