The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, vide Press Release dated May 15, 2026 (Release ID: 2261383 by PIB Delhi), has released the Quick Estimates of India’s foreign trade performance for the month of April 2026. According to the data released, India’s total exports (Merchandise and Services combined) for April 2026 are estimated at US$ 80.80 Billion, registering a positive growth of 13.59 percent vis-Ã -vis April 2025, while total imports (Merchandise and Services combined) are estimated at US$ 88.61 Billion, registering a positive growth of 7.67 percent over the corresponding period of the previous year.
Overall Trade Performance — April 2026: Total exports (Merchandise + Services) for April 2026 stood at US$ 80.80 Billion as against US$ 71.13 Billion in April 2025, recording an estimated growth of 13.59%. Total imports (Merchandise + Services) for April 2026 stood at US$ 88.61 Billion as against US$ 82.29 Billion in April 2025. The overall trade balance for April 2026 stood at a deficit of US$ 7.81 Billion as compared to a deficit of US$ 11.16 Billion in April 2025, reflecting a narrowing of the trade gap.
Merchandise Trade: Merchandise exports during April 2026 were US$ 43.56 Billion as compared to US$ 38.28 Billion during April 2025, registering a positive growth of 13.78%. Merchandise imports during April 2026 were US$ 71.94 Billion as compared to US$ 65.38 Billion in April 2025.
Non-Petroleum and Non-Gems & Jewellery Trade: Non-Petroleum exports during April 2026 were valued at US$ 33.97 Billion, registering an increase of 9.01% as compared to US$ 31.16 Billion in April 2025. Non-Petroleum imports stood at US$ 53.32 Billion against US$ 44.68 Billion. Non-Petroleum and Non-Gems & Jewellery exports were US$ 31.64 Billion as compared to US$ 28.66 Billion in April 2025, while corresponding imports were US$ 45.87 Billion as against US$ 39.75 Billion in April 2025.
Services Trade — RBI Estimates: The estimated value of services exports for April 2026 is US$ 37.24 Billion as compared to US$ 32.85 Billion in April 2025, an estimated growth of 13.36% over the corresponding month of the previous year. The estimated value of services imports for April 2026 is US$ 16.66 Billion as compared to US$ 16.91 Billion in April 2025. (As per the note appended to the Press Release, the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India for the services sector is for March 2026 and the data for April 2026 is an estimation; data for April 2025 has been revised on a pro-rata basis using the quarterly balance of payments data.)
Major Drivers of Merchandise Exports Growth: The major commodity groups driving merchandise exports growth in April 2026 include Petroleum Products, Electronic Goods, Engineering Goods, Meat, Dairy & Poultry Products and Drugs & Pharmaceuticals. Petroleum Products exports increased by 34.66% from US$ 7.12 Billion in April 2025 to US$ 9.59 Billion in April 2026; Electronic Goods exports increased by 40.31% from US$ 3.69 Billion to US$ 5.18 Billion; Engineering Goods exports increased by 8.76% from US$ 9.52 Billion to US$ 10.35 Billion; Meat, Dairy & Poultry Products exports increased by 48.03% from US$ 0.37 Billion to US$ 0.55 Billion; and Drugs & Pharmaceuticals exports increased by 7.12% from US$ 2.49 Billion to US$ 2.66 Billion.
Commodities Recording Positive Export Growth in April 2026: Apart from the major drivers, several other commodity groups recorded positive growth in April 2026 over April 2025, namely — Other Cereals (210.19%), Handicrafts excluding Hand Made Carpet (26.21%), Marine Products (14.74%), Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including Processed Minerals (13.85%), Iron Ore (11.46%), Oil Seeds (11.32%), Carpet (9.93%), Coffee (7.51%), Organic & Inorganic Chemicals (7.31%), Plastic & Linoleum (5.28%), Man-Made Yarn/Fabrics/Made-Ups etc. (2.34%), Cotton Yarn/Fabrics/Made-Ups, Handloom Products etc. (0.57%) and Leather & Leather Products (0.36%).
Commodities Recording Negative Import Growth: Imports of Chemical Material & Products (-35.4%), Pulses (-29.69%), Pearls, Precious & Semi-Precious Stones (-15.96%), Newsprint (-12.54%), Petroleum, Crude & Products (-10.03%), Wood & Wood Products (-8.36%), Textile Yarn Fabric, Made-Up Articles (-7.17%), Cotton Raw & Waste (-6.1%), Iron & Steel (-4.71%), Machine Tools (-0.73%) and Pulp and Waste Paper (-0.24%) registered negative growth during April 2026 over the corresponding month of the previous year.
Top Export Destinations — Positive Growth: The top five export destinations exhibiting positive growth in April 2026 vis-à -vis April 2025, in terms of change in value, are Singapore (179.18%), Tanzania Rep. (157.63%), Sri Lanka DSR (214.65%), Bangladesh PR (64.16%) and Hong Kong (90.61%).
Top Import Sources — Positive Growth: The top five import sources exhibiting positive growth in April 2026 vis-à -vis April 2025, in terms of change in value, are China P. Rp. (20.85%), Russia (18.21%), Oman (246.42%), Peru (315.56%) and Saudi Arabia (30.29%).
Effect / Key Takeaway:
The April 2026 Quick Estimates reflect a robust start to FY 2026-27 on India’s external trade front. The double-digit growth in total exports (13.59%) coupled with the narrowing of the overall trade deficit from US$ 11.16 Billion to US$ 7.81 Billion underscores the resilience of India’s outbound trade. Strong momentum in high-value sectors such as Electronic Goods, Petroleum Products, Engineering Goods and Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, complemented by a healthy 13.36% estimated growth in services exports, signal a broad-based expansion across both merchandise and services. The simultaneous decline in imports of crude petroleum and key industrial inputs has also contributed to the improvement in the trade balance for the month.
The Press Release can be accessed at: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2261383®=3&lang=1
