New Delhi: In February 2025, India's total exports, which include both goods and services, reached $71.95 billion, a decrease from $74.97 billion in January 2025. Nevertheless, this figure represents an increase from $69.74 billion in February 2024, as reported by the Commerce Ministry.
In the goods sector, exports dropped to $36.91 billion in February 2025, down from $41.41 billion in the same month the previous year. Conversely, imports experienced a more significant decline, falling to $50.96 billion from $60.92 billion in February 2024, indicating a reduction in the trade deficit for goods.
On the services side, exports saw a substantial increase, reaching $35.03 billion in February 2025, compared to $28.33 billion in February 2024. Imports in this sector also rose, totaling $16.55 billion, up from $15.23 billion the prior year.
When combining merchandise and services, India's total imports amounted to $67.52 billion in February 2025, marking a significant decrease from $76.15 billion in February 2024. This reduction in imports contributed to a narrower trade deficit and an improved overall trade balance for the nation.
In January 2025, India's total exports increased to $74.97 billion from $68.33 billion in January 2024, indicating consistent growth. However, the trade deficit widened to $2.67 billion, up from $0.39 billion in the same month last year, as imports surged to $77.64 billion compared to $68.72 billion in January 2024.
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal highlighted the impressive performance of the country's trade sector, reporting a 7.21 percent increase in exports from April 2024 to January 2025, which translates to an overall rise of USD 46 billion compared to the previous year. During this timeframe, merchandise exports contributed an additional USD 5 billion.
The non-petroleum export category experienced remarkable growth of 14.47 percent in January 2025, underscoring the strength of non-oil industries.
Key contributors to this growth included a significant 44.61 percent increase in rice exports, solidifying India's position as a leader in the global rice market. Furthermore, the gems and jewellery sector rebounded, achieving a 15.9 percent growth in January 2025.
In spite of persistent geopolitical challenges and global tariff issues, India's trade sector has shown remarkable resilience. The growth in exports is indicative of the effectiveness of the country's trade policies and the ongoing demand for Indian products and services on the international stage.
As of January 15, India's exports for the period of April to December 2024 recorded a 6.03 percent increase, amounting to approximately USD 602.64 billion, up from USD 568.36 billion during the same timeframe in 2023.
For the first nine months of FY2024, merchandise exports reached USD 321.71 billion, reflecting a 1.6 percent increase from USD 316.65 billion in the previous year. Notably, non-petroleum exports in December 2024 grew by 5.05 percent, totaling USD 33.09 billion compared to USD 31.50 billion in December 2023.
