New government data released on Thursday reveals a significant uptick in India's merchandise exports for September 2026. Exports soared by 23% year-on-year, reaching a total of $44.4 billion. This impressive growth contributed to a noticeable narrowing of the country's trade deficit, which fell to $30.21 billion from $33 billion in September 2025.
While imports also saw an increase, rising by 8% to $74.61 billion during the same month, the faster pace of export expansion played a crucial role in reducing the overall gap between goods sold overseas and those purchased from other nations.
Strong Performance in September 2026
The latest figures highlight a positive trend for India's external trade. The $2.79 billion reduction in the trade deficit compared to the previous year underscores the growing competitiveness and demand for Indian goods in international markets. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, speaking at a press briefing, emphasized that India's exports are successfully maintaining their growth momentum.
Half-Year Trade Figures Also Show Growth
Beyond the monthly data, the first six months of the current financial year (April-September 2026) also painted a picture of expanding trade. Merchandise exports during this period increased by 18.51%, totaling $259.89 billion. Imports also climbed by 16.31%, reaching $437.53 billion.
These half-yearly statistics further confirm that export growth has outpaced import growth, both in September and across the first half of FY27. Despite these positive developments, India's merchandise trade balance continues to operate in a deficit, indicating that the value of goods imported still exceeds that of goods exported overall.