India's exports to free-trade agreement (FTA) partners surged in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, with shipments to Singapore and Sri Lanka more than doubling, according to data published by The Economic Times. The FTA-driven gains contributed significantly to the broader momentum in India's overall merchandise exports, which rose 15.92% to $129.32 billion during April-June 2026.
Singapore and Sri Lanka lead the surge
According to The Economic Times, exports to Singapore jumped 101.2% to $6.52 billion in April-June 2026, from $3.24 billion in the year-ago period. Shipments to Sri Lanka soared 123.8% to $2.35 billion, compared with $1.05 billion a year earlier.
An official cited by The Economic Times said:
The data indicates that across key FTA partner countries, India's exports are growing robustly.
ASEAN, SAFTA and other regional blocs post broad gains
Exports to the ASEAN region rose 61.6% to $14.61 billion in the first quarter of the fiscal, from $9.04 billion in April-June 2025-26, The Economic Times reported. The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) region increased 36.6% to $8.40 billion from $6.15 billion in the year-ago period. The Economic Times also reported that Malaysia and Australia experienced substantial increases in their export figures during the period.
Bilateral gains across FTA partners
The following partner-level figures for April-June 2026 were reported by The Economic Times:
| Partner/bloc | Exports (April-June 2026) | Year-ago exports | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $6.52 billion | $3.24 billion | +101.2% |
| Sri Lanka | $2.35 billion | $1.05 billion | +123.8% |
| ASEAN | $14.61 billion | $9.04 billion | +61.6% |
| SAFTA | $8.40 billion | $6.15 billion | +36.6% |
For other FTA partners, The Economic Times reported:
- South Korea rose 22.6% to $1.95 billion
- Japan increased 22.4% to $1.75 billion
- Oman grew 26.4% to $1.39 billion
- Nepal climbed 18.1% to $2.28 billion
- Bhutan rose 16.1% to $360 million
- Thailand advanced 6% to $1.23 billion
India's FTA network and overall export momentum
India has signed 17 free trade agreements with countries and regional blocs, including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, the European Union, ASEAN and the EFTA bloc, according to The Economic Times. Of these, 16 are currently operational.
The strong growth in shipments to FTA partner countries contributed significantly to the broader momentum in India's exports during the quarter, the publication reported. Overall, India's exports rose 15.92% to $129.32 billion during April-June 2026.
Sources:
