India has registered its highest-ever export performance for the first half of a financial year, with total exports of merchandise and services reaching US$ 418.91 billion during April–September 2025, according to the Year-End Review released by the Department of Commerce on Thursday. The achievement comes despite persistent global economic uncertainties.
The Commerce Department noted that India’s total exports in 2024–25 rose to an all-time high of US$ 825.25 billion, growing 6.05% year-on-year. This momentum has continued into FY2025–26, with both the first and second quarters marking the strongest export figures ever recorded for their respective periods.
The services sector remained the backbone of India’s export growth. Services exports climbed to US$ 387.54 billion in 2024–25—a jump of 13.63% from the previous year. In the first half of the current fiscal year, services exports further increased 9.34% to US$ 199.03 billion.
Merchandise exports held steady at US$ 437.70 billion in 2024–25, with non-petroleum exports contributing US$ 374.32 billion. In April–September 2025, merchandise shipments rose 2.90% to US$ 219.88 billion. Key sectors driving growth in the first half included electronics, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, marine products, and rice.
India also saw robust demand from major global markets, recording strong export growth to the United States, United Arab Emirates, China, Spain, and Hong Kong.
To build on this momentum, the Department of Commerce announced a new ₹25,060-crore Export Promotion Mission, aimed at overhauling India’s export ecosystem, enhancing competitiveness, expanding market access through trade agreements, driving digital modernisation, and deepening engagement in ongoing free trade negotiations.
