India’s exports touched an all-time high of $863 billion in 2025-26 despite disruptions from the West Asia conflict and US tariff measures, underscoring the resilience of the country’s export ecosystem, a senior Commerce Ministry official said on Wednesday.
"This has been a very difficult year, from US tariffs to West Asia crises, but despite that, we have proved that India is very resilient as far as the export ecosystem is concerned. India's total exports reached an all-time high of $863 billion in FY 2025-26," Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Ajay Bhadoo said, according to PTI. Speaking at an outreach programme on the achievements of Gujarat's Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Ahmedabad, Bhadoo noted that India's exports have nearly doubled over the last decade.
Key Export Drivers
Engineering goods, petroleum products, electronics, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, and chemicals have been among the key drivers of export growth, Bhadoo said. Gujarat has emerged as a major export hub, contributing nearly $110 billion to the country's outbound shipments.
Decade-Long Export Growth
| Fiscal Year | Total Exports (USD) |
|---|---|
| ~2015-16 | $441 billion |
| 2025-26 | $863 billion |
Source: Commerce Ministry statement via PTI
Special Economic Zones and Gujarat
Bhadoo highlighted the government's focus on expanding manufacturing and exports, stating that new SEZs would continue to be promoted across the country. "There are sustained efforts to promote new special economic zones in Gujarat and across India. Recently, the government notified an SEZ to be set up by Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited in Dholera," he said.
Dnyaneshwar B Patil, Zonal Development Commissioner of Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ) , said SEZs have emerged as important engines of investment, employment, innovation and exports. "SEZs have emerged as key engines of investment, employment, innovation, and exports, playing a vital role in realising the vision of Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat 2047," Patil said.
According to Patil, exports from Gujarat's SEZs increased from Rs 21,79,808 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 23,00,793 crore in 2025-26, with the state accounting for about 21% of India's total SEZ exports. Investments in Gujarat's SEZs have grown from Rs 21,22,654 crore to Rs 22,28,624 crore, while employment has increased from 63,475 to over 2.22 lakh jobs during the same period.
Patil also said four semiconductor SEZs promoted by CG Semi Technologies, Kaynes Semicon, Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Micron Technology have been notified in Gujarat. He outlined a roadmap for Gujarat's SEZs targeting annual growth of 20% in exports and 10% in employment generation.
The record export performance comes despite external headwinds, reinforcing the resilience of India's trade ecosystem and the role of SEZs as engines of growth.
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