India Export Statistics 2025-26 — Key Numbers Every Buyer Should Know

Understanding where India''s export volume actually sits helps buyers judge supplier depth, price stability and lead-time risk before committing to a category. The headline picture India''s total exports of goods and services have crossed the 800 billion dollar mark, with merchandise exports in the region of 440-450 billion dollars and services making up the remainder. Services — IT, business services and professional services — have been the faster-growing half for several years. The government''s stated target is 2 trillion dollars in combined exports by 2030, supported by production-linked incentive schemes in electronics, pharmaceuticals, textiles and solar. Largest merchandise export categories Petroleum products remain the single largest line by value, followed by engineering goods, which have grown into the biggest non-oil category and cover machinery, auto components, castings and electrical equipment. Gems and jewellery, driven by Surat''s diamond processing, remains a top-five category. Pharmaceuticals continue to grow steadily and are India''s most globally trusted manufactured export. Electronics — led by smartphone assembly — has been the fastest-growing category in percentage terms, followed by textiles and apparel, chemicals, agricultural products (rice, spices, marine products, buffalo meat) and ceramics. Largest destination markets The United States is India''s largest single export destination, taking roughly a fifth of merchandise exports. The UAE follows, boosted by the India-UAE CEPA agreement, then the Netherlands (a European entry port), the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Germany and Australia. Trade agreements worth knowing CEPA with the UAE and ECTA with Australia both cut duties sharply on textiles, gems, agricultural goods and engineering products. Agreements with Japan, Korea and ASEAN remain in force, and negotiations with the EU and UK continue. If your country has an agreement with India, the correct certificate of origin can be worth more than any price negotiation. What this means for buyers Depth of supply is highest in textiles, engineering goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and agriculture — you will always find alternative suppliers if one fails. In newer categories such as solar modules and consumer electronics, capacity is expanding fast but supplier quality varies more widely, so verification matters more. Figures move each quarter; treat these as directional and confirm current data with DGFT or the Ministry of Commerce before making contractual decisions. On Today Adviser you can browse suppliers in each of these categories and see which are verified.