A dataset released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on 15th June, indicates a 18% jump in goods exports during May compared to last year. This increase is owed to a 10% decline in INR during the last 12 months, in addition to a partial recovery in exports to the West Asia region.
India’s trade deficit also swelled from $22.56 billion in 2025 to $28.21 billion in May 2026. While goods exports increased by 18% to $45.2 billion from $38.3 billion in May 2025, imports also surged by 20.62% to $73.41 billion.
During a press briefing on Monday, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said that exports to West Asia in May 2026 have almost reached the level of last May despite disruptions in that region.
In May this year, India’s exports to the UAE surged by 3.18% and to Saudi Arabia jumped by 11.12%. However, the imports from the US increased dramatically by 54.43% in May to $5.87 billion due to India’s increasing energy imports during the West Asia war.
The data indicated that a weaker rupee helped India’s goods exports log a 6-month high.
