New Delhi, August 14, 2026: India’s combined exports of merchandise and services rose 13.31 per cent year-on-year to $80.14 billion in July 2026, signalling continued strength in the country’s external trade despite global economic and geopolitical pressures.
The growth was supported by a sharp rise in merchandise shipments, which climbed 19.6 per cent to a record $44.24 billion during the month. Engineering products, electronics and petroleum-related shipments were among the key contributors to the strong goods export performance.
Services exports also remained an important pillar of India’s trade performance. However, imports of goods and services increased faster, rising 15.83 per cent to $95.16 billion, resulting in an overall trade deficit of about $15.03 billion in July.
The latest figures highlight the resilience of Indian exporters at a time when businesses are dealing with higher freight costs, supply-chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainty. The strong July performance also adds to the positive momentum recorded during the opening months of FY27.
For policymakers and industry, the challenge now will be to sustain export growth while improving logistics efficiency, widening the export base and containing the impact of rising import costs on the overall trade balance.