India’s Exports Rise 11% in September; Agri Exports Mixed, Fertiliser Imports Up 30% in H1
India’s total exports rose 10.99% to US $80.75 billion in September 2026, while imports increased 8.19% to US $94.05 billion. Agricultural exports gained in cereals, meat, dairy, poultry and marine products, but declined in oil meals, oilseeds and horticulture. Fertiliser, vegetable oil, pulse and cotton imports recorded significant growth during April–September.
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India’s total exports of merchandise and services rose 10.99% year-on-year to an estimated US $80.75 billion in September 2026, while imports increased 8.19% to US $94.05 billion, according to the trade performance data. The figures indicate continued growth in overall trade, but agricultural exports presented a mixed picture, with strong gains in cereals, meat, dairy, poultry and marine products offset by declines in oil meals, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, cashew and spices.
During April–September 2026-27, exports of other cereals recorded the strongest growth among the listed agricultural commodities, more than doubling by 113.8% to US $277 million from US $130 million a year earlier. September shipments rose 49.9% year-on-year to US $39 million.
Meat, dairy and poultry products also performed strongly. Exports increased 42% to US $3.9 billion during the first six months of the financial year, compared with US $2.745 billion in the corresponding period of 2025-26. September exports grew 35.2% to US $768 million.
Marine product exports rose 13.2% to US $4.5 billion during April–September, with September shipments increasing 8.8% to US $850 million. Exports of cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items grew 7.2% to US $1.767 billion, while coffee exports rose 3.6% to US $1.087 billion.
Rice exports registered a modest recovery, increasing 2.5% to US $5.776 billion during the six-month period. September shipments rose 4.2% to US $964 million. Tea, however, remained under pressure, with cumulative exports falling 13.6% to US $455 million.
Several other agricultural export categories also recorded declines. Oil meal exports dropped 26% to US $433 million, with September shipments falling sharply by 47.5% to US $58 million. Oilseed exports declined 16.2% to US $530 million, while exports of fruits and vegetables contracted 9.6% to US $1.687 billion.
Cashew exports fell 9.8% to US $136 million during April–September, affected by a 39.4% year-on-year decline in September. Spice exports declined 5.7% to US $2.024 billion, although September shipments registered a modest 4% recovery.
On the import side, rising purchases of fertilisers, vegetable oils, pulses, fruits and vegetables point to continued demand for agricultural inputs and food commodities. Fertiliser imports increased 30.2% to US $10.045 billion during April–September, up from US $7.718 billion a year earlier. However, September imports fell 22.2% year-on-year to US $1.839 billion.
Vegetable oil imports rose 11.6% to US $11.148 billion during the six-month period, with September imports increasing 13% to US $1.968 billion. Pulses imports climbed 36.8% to US $1.411 billion, while fruits and vegetables imports increased 29.8% to US $2.183 billion. Imports of raw cotton and cotton waste recorded a 63% surge to US $1.103 billion, with September imports rising 80.9% to US $301 million.
