India’s Exports Dip 1.01%, Imports Jump 6.17% YoY; Trade Deficit At USD 6.92 Bn In Dec

New Delhi, Jan 16 (KNN) India’s total exports, including goods and services, were estimated at USD 74.01 billion in December 2025, a marginal decline of 1.01 per cent compared with the same month last year, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Total imports rose 6.17 per cent year-on-year to USD 80.94 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of USD 6.92 billion for the month.

Merchandise and Services Performance

Merchandise exports increased to USD 38.51 billion in December 2025 from USD 37.80 billion a year earlier, while merchandise imports rose sharply to USD 63.55 billion from USD 58.43 billion.

Services exports were estimated at USD 35.50 billion, lower than USD 36.97 billion in December 2024. Services imports declined slightly to USD 17.38 billion.

Performance During April–December 2025

During April–December 2025, total exports were estimated at USD 634.26 billion, registering a growth of 4.33 per cent over the same period last year. Imports rose 4.95 per cent to USD 730.84 billion, pushing the cumulative trade deficit to USD 96.58 billion.

Merchandise exports for the nine-month period stood at USD 330.29 billion, up from USD 322.41 billion a year earlier, while merchandise imports increased to USD 578.61 billion. The merchandise trade deficit widened to USD 248.32 billion.

Non-Petroleum and Services Trade

Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in December rose to USD 32.02 billion, while corresponding imports increased to USD 42.72 billion. For April–December 2025, such exports reached USD 266.94 billion, with imports at USD 371.93 billion.

Services trade remained a bright spot, with exports during April–December 2025 estimated at USD 303.97 billion, up 6.46 per cent year-on-year. Services imports rose marginally to USD 152.23 billion, resulting in a services trade surplus of USD 151.74 billion.

Sectoral and Market Trends

In December 2025, export growth was strong in products such as cereals, coffee, iron ore, meat and dairy products, electronic goods, marine products, pharmaceuticals and engineering goods. 

On the import side, gold, leather products, transport equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, and textiles recorded a decline.

China, the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Spain were the top export destinations showing the highest growth during the month, while China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Peru and Chile were the leading sources of import growth.

(KNN Bureau)