Indian merchandise exports rose 18.5% in April-September, with shipments to Africa, ASEAN and North-East Asia recording particularly strong growth as exporters broadened their markets.
India’s merchandise exports posted broad-based gains across several regions in the first five months of the fiscal year, with Africa, ASEAN and North-East Asia driving much of the expansion, according to Commerce Ministry data cited by PTI. The figures point to a continued push to diversify overseas sales beyond traditional markets, even as Indian exporters also benefited from firmer demand in a range of destination economies.
Among the strongest performers, shipments to Africa climbed 47% to $26.19 billion in April-August, up from $17.83 billion a year earlier. Africa’s share of India’s total exports rose to 12.2% from 9.7% over the same period. East Africa nearly doubled, increasing 94% to $8.95 billion, while exports to the Southern African Customs Union rose 53% to $5.09 billion and sales to North Africa advanced 33% to $4.03 billion. West Africa also recorded a 7% rise to $5.57 billion.
Trade with south-east Asia also strengthened sharply. Exports to ASEAN rose 56% to $23.08 billion, while shipments to North-East Asia increased 37% to $21.03 billion. Sales to South Asia and other European countries were up 24%. The data also suggested a gradual normalisation in exports to West Asia, where shipments had been affected by the US-Iran war. Indian exports to the region rose from $4.2 billion in April to $5.01 billion in August, compared with $6.48 billion in January.
The ministry data also showed gains in several product categories. Exports of light-duty trucks rose 71% and medium-duty trucks increased 67% in April-August, reflecting stronger demand abroad. Optical fibre and cable exports surged 158% to $483 million, while electrical control boards almost doubled to $303 million, helped by demand in markets including the US, China, Singapore and Poland. Overall merchandise exports increased 18.51% to $259.89 billion in April-September from $219.30 billion in the same period a year earlier.
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