Current Account Deficit

Economists broadly agree that this financial year is shaping up to be tougher than the last for the external account

From rising oil-linked risks and services data gaps to gold loan expansion and global capital flows, here are the key insights from Business Standard's Opinion page

There are moments (like the present) when current account deficits are widening in response to shocks, but our system has a well-developed playbook for dealing with these

India's current account deficit widened to $13.2 billion in Q3FY26 as the trade gap expanded, though higher services receipts, lower investment outflows and stronger remittances provided some support

But when capital flows are volatile, as has happened this financial year, even financing a low CAD can become challenging and put pressure on the currency

India's CAD narrowed to $2.4 billion in Q1FY26 from $8.6 billion a year ago as remittances surged 18% and services exports rose, offsetting a wider merchandise trade deficit

The current account deficit stood at $2.4 bn, or 0.2% of GDP, in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025-26, compared with a surplus of $13.5 bn, or 1.3% of GDP, in preceding quarter, data showed

The spectre of higher tariffs imposed by the US means export prospects, including for India, will be subdued in 2025

India's current account balance recorded a surplus of USD 13.5 billion (1.3 per cent of GDP) in January-March quarter of 2024-25 as compared with USD 4.6 billion (0.5 per cent of GDP) in the year-ago period, RBI said on Friday. The current account was in deficit of USD 11.3 billion (1.1 per cent of GDP) in December quarter of 2024-25. On annual basis, India had a current account deficit at USD 23.3 billion (0.6 per cent of GDP) during 2024-25, lower than USD 26 billion (0.7 per cent of GDP) during 2023-24, primarily due to higher net invisibles receipts. Merchandise trade deficit at USD 59.5 billion in Q4:2024-25 was higher than USD 52 billion in Q4:2023-24, according to Reserve Bank's 'Developments in India's Balance of Payments during the Fourth Quarter (January-March) of 2024-25. However, it moderated from USD 79.3 billion in Q3:2024-25. Net services receipts increased to USD 53.3 billion in Q4:2024-25 from USD 42.7 billion a year ago. Services exports have risen on a y-o-y ba

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Pakistan's central bank on Thursday said that the country's current account posted a record surplus of USD 1.2 billion in March 2025, showing economic stability. Data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed that the surplus on a year-on-year basis surged 230 per cent from USD 363 million recorded in March 2024. The Express Tribune newspaper reported that according to brokerage firms Topline Securities and Arif Habib Limited, March 2025 marked the highest-ever monthly current account surplus in the country's history. The robust performance brought the cumulative current account surplus to USD 1.86 billion during the first nine months of FY202425, a sharp turnaround from a USD 1.65 billion deficit in the same period of the previous fiscal year. With oil prices down and remittances hitting record levels, Pakistan's current account is expected to remain in surplus through June FY25, and possibly into FY26, supporting overall investor confidence, said Khurram Schehzad, Advis

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The current account deficit stood at $11.2 bn, or 1.2 per cent of GDP in the reporting quarter, compared with a revised deficit of $11.3 bn or 1.3 per cent of GDP in the same quarter a year ago

The current account deficit (CAD) for the September quarter is set to widen to 1.6 per cent -- the most in the last seven quarters -- a report said on Thursday. In absolute terms the July-September CAD will be USD 15 billion, or 1.6 per cent, as against USD 9.8 billion, or 1.1 per cent, in the June quarter, India Ratings and Research said in the report. The CAD in the second quarter will be the highest since Q3 FY23, where the crucial gap representing the country's external position was USD 16.8 billion, or 2 per cent of the GDP. The domestic rating agency said merchandise exports shrank 3.9 per cent during the period while goods exports were down to a 12-quarter low of USD 103 billion. Goods exports declined after three quarters due to subdued demand from major exporting partners such as China, Singapore, Bangladesh, and Australia, it said. The CAD is moderate to about 1.3 per cent of the GDP in December quarter, Paras Jasrai, its economist and senior analyst, said.

Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ICRA, said, "While the CAD expectedly widened in Q1FY25, it undershot our forecast primarily due to secondary income."

The current account deficit stood at $9.7 billion, or 1.1 per cent of the GDP, in the fiscal first quarter, compared with a deficit of $8.9 billion or 1 per cent of GDP in the same quarter a year ago

According to India Ratings and Research, India's current account deficit (CAD) is expected to rise to 1% of GDP in Q2FY25, with a 1% increase in merchandise exports and a widening goods trade deficit