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Informist, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025

 

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--India Oct services trade surplus $19.88 bln vs $17.18 bln year ago 
--India Oct services trade imports $18.64 bln vs $17.23 bln year ago 
--India Oct services trade exports $38.52 bln vs $34.41 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct electronic goods exports $26.28 bln vs $19.07 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct petroleum product exports $34.36 bln vs $41.06 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct engineering goods exports $68.73 bln vs $67.60 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct gold imports $41.24 bln vs $33.96 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct electronic goods imports $65.73 bln vs $56.43 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct oil imports $106.91 bln vs $111.93 bln year ago 
--India Oct exports to US $6.31 bln vs $6.90 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct imports from US $30.06 bln vs $27.39 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct imports from Russia $35.97 bln vs $40.32 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct imports from China $73.99 bln vs $66.13 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct exports to China $10.03 bln vs $8.04 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct exports to US $52.12 bln vs $47.32 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct non-oil imports $344.17 bln vs $312.13 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct non-oil exports $219.90 bln vs $211.60 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct merchandise trade deficit $196.83 bln vs $171.40 bln yr ago 
--India Apr-Oct merchandise imports $451.08 bln vs $424.06 bln year ago 
--India Apr-Oct merchandise exports $254.25 bln vs $252.66 bln year ago 
--India Oct merchandise trade deficit $41.68 bln vs vs $26.23 bln year ago 
--India Oct merchandise imports $76.06 bln vs $65.21 bln year ago 
--India Oct merchandise exports $34.38 bln vs $38.98 bln year ago
--Trade secy: Oct trade deficit high on back of gold, silver imports 

 

NEW DELHI – India's merchandise trade deficit in October widened to an all-time high on the back of record imports during the month, according to data detailed by the commerce ministry Monday. Goods exports, meanwhile, fell the sharpest in 15 months in October on a year-on-year basis. 

 

In October, merchandise exports fell 11.8% on year to $34.38 billion and imports rose 16.6% to $76.06 billion.

 

The goods trade deficit widened to $41.68 billion in October from $32.14 billion a year ago, the highest deficit in absolute terms. It was up 58.9% on year, the sharpest on-year jump since April 2025. In September, India exported goods worth $36.38 billion and imported goods worth $68.53 billion. India's trade deficit in September was $32.14 billion. 

 

India's merchandise exports rose to $451.08 billion during the first seven months of 2025-26 (Apr-Mar) from $424.06 billion a year ago. India imported goods worth $254.25 billion in Apr-Oct, marginally up from $252.66 billion in the same period last year. Trade deficit during Apr-Oct was $196.83 billion against $171.40 billion a year ago.

 

The government estimates services trade exports at $38.52 billion in October, down 11.9% on year, and services trade imports at $18.64 billion, up 8.2% on year. India recorded a services trade surplus of $19.88 billion last month, higher than a surplus of $17.18 billion in October 2024.

 

India's overall exports in Apr-Oct were $491.80 billion against $469.11 billion a year ago.  

 

Merchandise imports surged to a record high in October because of higher imports of gold and silver, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said at a press conference. While item-wise data for October was not available immediately, data for Apr-Oct showed gold imports rose to $41.24 billion in Apr-Oct from $33.96 billion in the same period last year. At the end of September, gold was imported to the tune of $26.51 billion. This suggests gold imports during October totalled $14.73 billion. According to Agrawal, there was no double counting of gold import data during the month, a problem that was seen last year. 

 

India's oil import bill was $106.91 billion in the seven months to October, a tad lower than $111.93 billion a year ago. Non-oil imports increased to $344.17 billion in Apr-Oct from $312.13 billion a year ago. 

 

China remained India's largest import source nation during the first seven months of FY26 while Russia continued to be in the recently-slipped-to third spot, overtaken by the United Arab Emirates. Imports from China increased to $73.99 billion from $66.13 billion a year ago.

 

Imports from Russia decreased to $35.97 billion in Apr-Oct from $40.32 billion a year ago. Imports from the UAE increased to $40.36 billion in the first seven months of FY26 from $35.58 billion a year ago.

 

Non-oil exports increased to $219.90 billion in Apr-Oct from $211.60 billion a year ago. Petroleum product exports moderated to $34.36 billion during this period from $41.06 billion a year ago. 

 

Engineering goods exports rose to $68.73 billion in Apr-Oct from $67.60 billion a year ago. Electronic goods exports were $26.28 billion in Apr-Oct, up from $19.07 billion a year ago.

 

The US remains the largest export destination for India despite the high tariffs imposed from August. India's exports to the US rose to $52.12 billion in Apr-Oct from $47.32 billion a year ago. As per the monthly data, exports to the US in October – at $6.31 billion – were higher than the September figure of $5.47 billion. India's exports to the US last month were, however, slightly lower than exports of $6.90 billion in October 2024.  End

 

US$1 = INR 88.63

 

Reported by Priyasmita Dutta and Sagar Sen

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

 

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