Exports in June last year were at USD 35.16 billion.
Imports declined 3.71 per cent year-on-year to USD 53.92 billion during the month due to a fall in the inbound shipments of crude oil and gold.
Key export sectors, including petroleum, fabrics, gems and jewellery, leather, iron ore, oil seeds, cashew, spices, tobacco, and coffee, recorded negative growth during the month under review.
The shipments of petroleum products dipped 15.92 per cent to USD 4.61 billion in June, and 15.63 per cent to USD 17.4 billion during the first quarter.
However, exports of engineering, tea, rice, ready-made garments of all textiles, chemicals, marine products, and pharma have registered positive growth.
Electronic goods’ shipments rose 46.93 per cent to USD 4.14 billion in June. It was up 47.11 per cent to USD 12.4 billion during the April-June quarter this fiscal.
During April-June 2025-26, exports increased 1.92 per cent to USD 112.17 billion, while imports rose 4.24 per cent to USD 179.44 billion, according to the data.
Merchandise trade deficit during April-June 2025 widened to USD 67.26 billion as compared to USD 62.10 billion in the same quarter last financial year.
Briefing media on the data, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said the country’s goods and services exports during the first quarter of 2025-26 are estimated at USD 210 billion, which is an increase of about 6 per cent year-on-year.
“If the growth continues like this, then we are going to cross last year’s exports figures,” he said.
In 2024-25, India’s goods and services shipments reached a record high of USD 825 billion.
On the imports front, crude oil and gold imports decreased 8.37 per cent and 25.73 per cent to USD 13.8 billion and USD 1.9 billion, respectively.
Further, the estimated value of services export for June is USD 32.84 billion as compared to USD 28.67 billion in the same month last year. The imports are estimated at USD 17.58 billion in June as against USD 15.14 billion in June 2024.
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President S C Ralhan urged the government to maintain a sharp, sector-focused export strategy, especially in services.
“With India’s digital capabilities and skilled workforce, there is immense scope to boost services exports. Investment in digital infrastructure, talent development, and targeted international promotion will be critical to sustaining this upward trajectory,” Ralhan said.
Economic think tank GTRI said that India’s merchandise trade data for June 2025 reveals a mixed trend, with exports largely flat but imports continuing to decline, driven by falling gold and crude oil shipments.
“High import-intensity sectors like electronics are gaining ground, while traditional labour-intensive sectors remain flat or in decline,” Ajay Srivastava said, adding that as global trade becomes more protectionist, India must tread carefully. PTI RR SHW
