Goods exports up 9%, trade deficit widens | India News

India’s exports noticed a lift of 9.1% in April, reaching $38.5 billion. However, the trade deficit elevated to $26.4 billion. Imports additionally rose considerably, up 19% to $64.9 billion. The US grew to become a serious vacation spot for exports. China remained the highest supply of imports. Petroleum and electronics imports additionally contributed to the elevated import numbers.

NEW DELHI: India’s items exports rose 9.1%, the quickest tempo in six months, to $38.5 billion in April, whereas the trade deficit widened to $26.4 billion, the best since final Nov. Latest knowledge launched by the commerce division pegged imports at $64.9 billion in April, which was 19% larger than the corresponding interval final yr.“We have opened this year with a bang… I hope India will maintain this export momentum and it should be a good year despite global uncertainties,” commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal mentioned.Part of the rise in exports might have been pushed by front-loading of shipments to the US forward of the deadline for reciprocal tariffs that kicked in on April 9, solely to be paused for 90 days.

US shipments main driver

Shipments to the US went up 27% to $8.4 billion, the most recent numbers confirmed.Overall, electronics exports, a big a part of which is thru air cargo, shot up practically 40% to $3.7 billion. Engineering items, the most important merchandise in India’s export basket, rose over 11% to $9.5 billion, whereas petroleum merchandise (the second greatest group) had been 4.7% larger at $7.4 billion.Some shipments into the nation had been additionally superior, pushing up imports.“The merchandise trade deficit in April 2025 exceeded our expectations despite a healthy growth in exports, partly on account of a front-loading of crude oil imports amid softer prices, as well as a sharp increase in electronics,” mentioned Aditi Nayar, chief economist at scores company ICRA.Petroleum imports soared 25.6% to $20.7 billion, whereas chemical materials greater than doubled to $2 billion. Import consignments of metalliferous ores and different minerals zoomed 77% to go previous the $1 billion mark in April and non-ferrous steel imports had been 30% larger at $2.3 billion. Electronics shipments are estimated to have elevated 31% to $9.5 billion.Gold imports had been estimated to be 4.9% larger at $3.1 billion.China cemented its place as the highest supply of imports with a 27% improve to $9.9 billion in April, though Russia nearly managed to remain on the second spot with total shipments valued 18% larger at $6.2 billion. UAE, with an 89% bounce, was simply $540,000 in need of Russia’s stage. Imports from the US had been additionally up 64% to $5.4 billion.