Exports Grow 6.15% in April-January 2025-26; FTAs with EU & US to Provide Fresh Impetus: S C Ralhan, President, FIEO

New Delhi, February 16, 2026: The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has welcomed the encouraging growth in India’s exports during April-January 2025-26, reflecting the resilience and sustained momentum of the country’s external trade sector amid continuing global uncertainties. India’s overall exports during the period rose by 6.15% to USD 720.76 billion, as compared to USD 679.02 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Merchandise exports stood at USD 366.63 billion, registering a growth of 2.20% over USD 358.75 billion recorded in April-January 2024–25. Notably, exports in January 2026 alone increased significantly to USD 80.45 billion, up from USD 71.09 billion in January last year, underlining a strong recovery in external demand and improving global trade sentiment.
S C Ralhan, President, FIEO, stated that the 6.15% growth in overall exports during April-January 2025-26 is a positive and reassuring indicator of the inherent strength and competitiveness of Indian industry. He highlighted that the successful conclusion of Free Trade Agreements with the European Union and the United States marks a transformative milestone in India’s evolving trade architecture. As the United States continues to be India’s top export destination and Europe remains a major high-value market, these agreements are expected to provide enhanced market access, improved tariff competitiveness and greater regulatory predictability for Indian exporters. With timely implementation and proactive industry preparedness, the FTAs are poised to significantly accelerate India’s export growth trajectory in the coming years.
Ralhan further noted that key sectors such as engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, textiles and garments, leather, gems and jewellery, agriculture and marine products are expected to benefit substantially from these trade agreements. The steady performance of sectors including engineering goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, gems and jewellery and agriculture during the current fiscal demonstrates the diversification of India’s export basket and the country’s deeper integration into global value chains.
On the import front, overall imports during April-January 2025-26 rose by 6.54% to USD 823.41 billion, compared to USD 772.85 billion in the same period last year. Merchandise imports grew by 7.21% to USD 649.86 billion from USD 606.13 billion in April-January 2024-25. Imports in January 2026 stood at USD 90.83 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of USD 10.45 billion for the month. Commenting on the trend, Ralhan observed that the increase in imports, particularly of petroleum, electronic goods, machinery and industrial raw materials, reflects robust domestic demand and ongoing capacity expansion across sectors. While the trade deficit in January stood at USD 10.45 billion, he emphasized that the overall trend remains manageable in view of sustained export growth and strengthening economic fundamentals.
Major export contributors during April-January 2025-26 included engineering goods, petroleum products, electronic goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, organic and inorganic chemicals, ready-made garments of all textiles, cotton yarn and fabrics, handloom products, rice and marine products. India’s leading export destinations continued to be the United States, United Arab Emirates, China, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Italy, while major import sources included China, United Arab Emirates, Russia, United States, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.
FIEO expressed confidence that with sustained policy support, improved market access under the new FTAs and continued industry resilience, India is well-positioned to maintain its export growth momentum and further strengthen its role as a reliable and competitive partner in global trade.