New Delhi: Driven by robust gains across electronic goods, petroleum products, and engineering items, India's total exports of merchandise and services jumped 25.41 percent year-on-year to hit $82.68 billion in August, according to official Commerce Ministry figures released on Tuesday.

Concurrently, overall imports of merchandise and services expanded by 18.75 percent during the month to reach $92.09 billion.

Cumulative figures for the first five months of the fiscal year (April–August 2026–27) show total exports estimated at $399.27 billion—a 15.55 percent growth compared to $345.55 billion registered in the corresponding period last year. Total imports for the same April–August span rose 18.01 percent to $459.65 billion.

Merchandise performance breakdown

Standalone merchandise exports for August 2026 stood at $43.81 billion, up from $34.74 billion in August 2025. Merchandise imports for the month rose to $70.67 billion, compared to $61.96 billion in the year-ago period.

Key drivers powering August's merchandise export growth included:

  • Electronic Goods: Surged 89.82% to $5.55 billion (up from $2.93 billion in August 2025).

  • Petroleum Products: Rose 63.27% to $6.81 billion (up from $4.17 billion).

  • Engineering Goods: Grew 24.86% to $12.32 billion (up from $9.87 billion).

  • Organic & Inorganic Chemicals: Increased 16.38% to $2.80 billion.

  • Textiles (including Handlooms): Advanced 13.79% to $1.12 billion (up from $0.99 billion).

Five-month trade deficit

For the cumulative April–August 2026–27 period, total merchandise exports reached $215.91 billion compared to $183.21 billion in April–August 2025–26. Merchandise imports for the period expanded to $363.00 billion against $307.09 billion recorded in the previous financial year.

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Consequently, the merchandise trade deficit for the April–August 2026–27 period widened to $147.09 billion, compared to $123.88 billion logged during the same five-month stretch in 2025–26. (IANS)