India's exports in June rise 15.5%; trade deficit widens to $30.43 bn

India’s exports grew by 15.5% year-on-year to $40.41 billion in June, even as the country’s trade deficit widened to $30.43 billion on account of a sharp rise in imports.

Imports during the month increased by about 31% to $70.84 billion, mainly due to higher inward shipments of crude oil, electronics, machinery and precious metals, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said while briefing reporters on the trade data.

The merchandise trade deficit stood at $30.43 billion in June.

Agarwal also said India's exports to West Asian countries rose 7.29% to about $5 billion during the month.

During the April-June quarter of the current fiscal, the country's cumulative exports of merchandise and services increased by 11.37% to $232.73 billion from $208.98 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Merchandise exports during the first quarter rose 15.92% to $129.32 billion, compared with $111.57 billion in the year-ago period.

Non-petroleum exports, a key indicator of the strength of the export basket beyond oil products, increased by 12.44% to $106.30 billion during April-June from $94.54 billion a year earlier.

Engineering goods shipments rose 20.74% to $11.48 billion in June from $9.51 billion in the same month last year.

Electronic goods exports increased 18.93% to $4.93 billion from $4.14 billion, while exports of organic and inorganic chemicals grew 19.42% to $2.77 billion from $2.32 billion.

Gems and jewellery exports recorded a robust 34.64% growth to $2.41 billion in June, against $1.79 billion in the corresponding month of 2025.

Rice exports also registered healthy growth, rising 16.48% to $1 billion from $860 million a year earlier.