New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) India's record merchandise exports in July despite continuing global supply chain disruption demonstrated the ability of businesses to respond swiftly to an increasingly complex global trading environment, an industry body said on Thursday.
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan also called for continued focus on logistics, liquidity, MSMEs and market diversification.
India’s merchandise exports surged 19 per cent in July 2026 to a record $ 44.24 billion, the highest-ever merchandise export value recorded for the month of July.
Ralhan called the achievement a "strong testimony to the resilience, competitiveness and adaptability of Indian exporters."
During April–July 2026-27 merchandise exports increased by 17.04 per cent to $173.78 billion, while India’s overall exports of merchandise and services grew by 13.16 per cent to $ 316.42 billion.
"Particularly encouraging is the 12.79 per cent growth in non-petroleum exports, indicating that the export momentum is broad-based and increasingly supported by manufacturing and value-added sectors," he added.
“Engineering, electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles and other manufacturing sectors are contributing meaningfully to this momentum. Going forward, a sharper focus on MSMEs and labour-intensive sectors will help translate export growth into greater employment and wider economic benefits,” FIEO President added.
“While resilience in major markets such as the US, EU and China is encouraging, the growing presence of Indian products in the UAE, Singapore, Africa and other emerging markets reflects the conscious efforts of exporters to diversify," the statement said.
US, UAE, Singapore, China, Netherlands, UK, Germany, South Africa, Bangladesh and Tanzania featured among India’s leading export destinations during April–July 2026.
The industry body cautioned about the rising import bill and widening trade deficit. During April–July, merchandise imports grew by 19.27 per cent, compared with 17.04 per cent growth in merchandise exports.
“While imports of energy, capital goods and intermediates are also associated with higher domestic economic activity, we need to simultaneously strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities in critical inputs, electronics, machinery and other areas of high import dependence,” Ralhan observed.
Ralhan emphasised building on this momentum through a responsive trade policy framework, adequate and competitive export credit, easier access to working capital, faster trade facilitation and urgent attention to shipping and logistics challenges.
—IANS
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