India's merchandise exports climb 15% year-to-date amid global turmoil

At a press briefing following the 14th India-UAE High-Level Task Force on Investment, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India’s merchandise exports have risen by roughly 15% through September 21 of the fiscal year, a notable gain given the backdrop of two active wars and congestion in the Strait of Hormuz, the nation’s main sea lane. Export values jumped 17.85% year-on-year to $215.91 billion during the April-August period, while imports increased 18.21% to $363 billion.

Goyal added that the United Arab Emirates, India’s seventh-largest source of foreign direct investment, intends to inject an additional $25 billion soon, with a longer-term goal of reaching $100 billion in cumulative UAE investment. Official trade data for the April-September window will be released by the commerce ministry next month. The figures underscore India’s resilience in external trade despite geopolitical tensions.