Pariksha SaathiIndia's total exports rose 10.99% to $80.75 billion in September 2026; April-September exports at $476.20 billion
Provisional trade data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 15 October 2026 estimates India's total exports (merchandise and services) for September 2026 at US$ 80.75 billion, up 10.99% from US$ 72.76 billion in September 2025, and total imports at US$ 94.05 billion, up 8.19%; the combined trade balance was a deficit of US$ 13.30 billion against US$ 14.17 billion a year earlier. Merchandise exports were US$ 44.40 billion (US$ 36.08 billion in September 2025) and merchandise imports US$ 74.61 billion; services exports are estimated at US$ 36.35 billion, since the RBI's latest services data is for August. For April-September 2026-27, total exports are estimated at US$ 476.20 billion (up 13.84%) and total imports at US$ 551.13 billion (up 15.68%); merchandise exports grew 18.51% to US$ 259.89 billion and non-petroleum exports 15.56% to US$ 218.70 billion. Electronic goods were the fastest-growing major export in September, up 70.44% to US$ 5.31 billion, followed by petroleum products (31.90%), organic and inorganic chemicals (24.21%) and engineering goods (20.91%).
Drafted with AI assistance from the official PIB release linked above and checked against it by a second AI pass. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
Merchandise (goods) trade data is compiled by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), Kolkata, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, while services trade data comes from the Reserve Bank of India’s balance of payments statistics, which is why the services figure for the latest month is an estimate. The trade balance is exports minus imports: a negative figure is a trade deficit. The balance of trade covers only goods and services; the current account also includes income flows and transfers such as remittances.
Reference: DGCI&S, the official compiler of India’s merchandise trade statistics
Check yourself: does a trade deficit mean the current account is also in deficit?
Not necessarily. The trade balance covers goods and services only; the current account also counts primary income and transfers such as remittances, which can offset part of a trade deficit.
Revision task: from this release, note September 2026’s total exports, imports and deficit and the cumulative April-September figures, and keep them apart from the standing facts on who compiles the data.
Test yourself
According to the provisional trade data released on 15 October 2026, which major export category grew fastest in September 2026, by 70.44% year on year?
Show the answer
Answer: Electronic goods
Electronic goods exports rose 70.44% to US$ 5.31 billion in September 2026; petroleum products grew 31.90%, chemicals 24.21% and engineering goods 20.91%.
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