India's exports flat at $35.14 bn in June; trade gap at $18.78 bn

India's trade deficit stood at $18.78 billion in June 2025, according to data released by the government on Tuesday, reported PTI. The gap comes amid stagnant year-on-year export growth and a decline in imports.

 

Merchandise exports in June were recorded at $35.14 billion, nearly flat from $35.16 billion in the same month last year. On the import side, the country saw a 3.71 per cent year-on-year decline, totalling to $53.92 billion.

 

"India's exports in June were affected by fall in crude oil prices," Sunil Barthwal, trade secretary, said, as quoted by Reuters.

 

India’s crude oil imports declined to $13.7 billion in June from $14.7 billion in May, while gold imports dropped to $1.8 billion from $2.5 billion over the same period, reported Reuters.

 

Despite an increase in base tariffs on Indian goods to 10 per cent, exports to the US rose to ₹25.52 billion in April–June, up from ₹20.89 billion in the same period last year, the report added.

 

For the April–June quarter of the financial year 2025–26, exports rose 1.92 per cent to $112.17 billion, while imports increased 4.24 per cent to $179.44 billion.

 

In May 2025, India's trade deficit stood at $21.88 billion, down from $26.42 billion in April. Meanwhile, merchandise exports totalled $38.73 billion and imports stood $60.61 billion. Therefore, the narrowing trade deficit in June can be attributed to a steep decline in imports.

 

(With inputs from PTI and Reuters.)