New Delhi, India, Aug. 13 (ANI): India’s overall trade deficit, covering merchandise and services, widened by about 31.5% year over year to $15.03 billion in July 2026 as imports grew faster than exports, according to Commerce Ministry data.
India’s overall exports of merchandise and services rose to $80.14 billion in July 2026 from $70.72 billion in July 2025, an increase of about 13.3%.
Overall imports increased at a faster pace to $95.16 billion from $82.16 billion in the year-ago month, a rise of about 15.8%. Consequently, the overall trade deficit increased from $11.43 billion in July 2025 to $15.03 billion this July.
The export performance was led by merchandise shipments, which jumped 19.63% to $44.24 billion from $36.98 billion a year earlier.
According to the Commerce Ministry, merchandise exports of $44.24 billion marked the highest-ever July export figure, surpassing the previous July high of $38.34 billion recorded in 2022.
Merchandise imports also rose sharply, increasing 17.52% to $76.22 billion in July from $64.86 billion a year ago.
Services exports were estimated at $35.89 billion in July 2026, compared with $33.74 billion in July 2025, while services imports were estimated at $18.94 billion, compared with $17.30 billion.
For the April-July period of 2026-27, India’s overall exports increased 13.16% to $316.42 billion from $279.63 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Overall imports during the four-month period climbed 17.28% to $365.85 billion from $311.94 billion. The cumulative overall trade deficit consequently widened sharply to $49.43 billion from $32.32 billion, with the ministry putting the increase at 52.97%.
Merchandise exports during April-July rose 17.04% to $173.78 billion, while merchandise imports increased 19.27% to $292.38 billion.
The data also showed strong growth in shipments to some key markets. Merchandise exports to China rose to $7.78 billion during April-July from $5.72 billion a year earlier, while exports to the United States edged up to $34.49 billion from $33.48 billion. (ANI)
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