India export data: Top exports analysis in Q1/2026

India export data: Key performing drivers in Q1 2026

• Refined petroleum is the main export of India at US$12.08 billion in Q1 2026, ahead of smartphones at US$9.23 billion and pharmaceuticals at US$5.61 billion, based on TradeInt's verified export shipping records.
• The United States is the largest export destination of India at US$21.12 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates at US$8.11 billion and China at US$4.94 billion.
• India's export base spans energy, electronics, pharmaceuticals, gems, and agriculture, showing a broad manufacturing and services economy serving global markets.
• The Ministry of Commerce reported India's April-May 2026 merchandise exports rose 16.09% year-on-year to US$88.91 billion, led by petroleum products, engineering goods, and electronics.

What is India's main export? Analysed by India export data

Based on TradeInt's India shipment records, the main exports of India are refined petroleum at US$12.08 billion, followed by smartphones at US$9.23 billion and pharmaceuticals at US$5.61 billion.

The list of India's top exports contains diamonds, rice, jewellery, passenger cars, vehicle parts, gas turbines, and heterocyclic compounds.

Top India exports in Q1 2026:

1. Refined petroleum (HS 2710) - US$12.08 billion: India's largest export, refined from imported crude and shipped to global fuel markets.
2. Smartphones (HS 8517) - US$9.23 billion: India's fast-growing electronics export, led by domestic assembly for global brands.
3. Pharmaceuticals (HS 3004) - US$5.61 billion: medicaments supplying India's role as a major generic-drug exporter.
4. Diamonds (HS 7102) - US$3.28 billion: cut and polished stones feeding India's gems-and-jewellery export trade.
5. Rice (HS 1006) - US$3.23 billion: a leading agricultural export, with India a top global rice supplier.

TradeInt is a global trade data platform providing access to over 10 billion verified import and export records. Its coverage spans over 200 countries and more than 80 customs data sources.

This article provides an overview of India’s exports. Use TradeInt to explore more detailed trade records and continue tracking this market as new data becomes available. Search India export records →

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India's export growth in 2026 is being led by high-value manufacturing rather than raw commodities. Electronics and petroleum products are expanding fastest, reflecting India's push to move up the value chain in global supply.

According to News On Air, India's total exports reached US$80.8 billion in April 2026, up 13.6% year-on-year, with the fastest gains in electronics and fuel.

The forces behind each of India's leading export categories stand out clearly:

• Electronics led to growth: India's electronic goods exports surged 40.31% year-on-year in April 2026 to US$5.18 billion, per News On Air, as domestic smartphone assembly for global brands scaled up rapidly.
• Petroleum products stayed strong: India's petroleum product exports rose 54.89% year-on-year in May 2026 to US$8.42 billion, based on reporting from the Ministry of Commerce, as refiners processed discounted crude into fuel for export.
• Gems faced a gold squeeze: India's plain gold jewellery exports fell 40.11% year-on-year in April-May 2026 to US$635.95 million, as tighter gold imports reduced the metal available for export manufacturing.
• Diamonds and studded jewellery held firm: Diamond exports stayed steady, and studded gold jewellery exports rose 6.71% to US$964.02 million in April-May 2026, supported by India's free-trade agreements, opening new markets such as Oman.

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What are the top countries does India export to, according to India export data?

From India export data on TradeInt, India exports mainly to the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and China. The US led in Q1 2026 at US$21.12 billion, the UAE followed at US$8.11 billion, and China came third at US$4.94 billion, based on TradeInt's records.

Other top Indian export partners include Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia.

Top India exports by country in Q1 2026:

1. United States (US$21.12 billion): India's largest market by far, buying smartphones, pharmaceuticals, and jewellery.
2. United Arab Emirates (US$8.11 billion): a major Gulf market, taking refined petroleum and gems.
3. China (US$4.94 billion): a key buyer of diamonds and industrial inputs from India.
4. Singapore (US$3.79 billion): a regional trade hub taking refined petroleum and re-export goods.
5. United Kingdom (US$3.30 billion): a diversified market for smartphones and manufactured goods.

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India's export map in 2026 is broadening beyond its established Western markets, with fast growth in Asia and Africa reshaping the destination mix.

While the United States remains the dominant single market, the sharpest gains come from smaller, emerging corridors. In fact, India's fastest-growing export destinations by value in May 2026 included Singapore, up 68.96%, and South Africa, up 116.21%.

A closer look at what is moving India's key export factors:

• Asian hubs grew fastest: Singapore led India's May 2026 export growth at 68.96%, and China rose 25.85% over April-May, per the Ministry of Commerce, as India shipped more petroleum products and industrial goods into Asian trade hubs.
• African markets opened up: South Africa and Tanzania recorded triple-digit export growth in May 2026, showing India widening its reach into African markets that were previously minor destinations.
• Free-trade deals opened new corridors: India began jewellery exports to Oman under the India-Oman trade agreement, according to FashionNetwork, creating a new Gulf corridor for plain gold jewellery exporters.
• The US is the anchor market: Even as newer corridors grew, the United States remained India's dominant destination, absorbing the largest share of smartphones, pharmaceuticals, and jewellery exports.

Is India export market growing or declining in Q1 2026?

India's tracked export value grew from US$115.04 billion in Q1 2025 to US$107.45 billion in Q1 2026, staying within a narrow band across the period, as analyzed by TradeInt.

India export value shows steady changes from Q1 2025 to Q2 2026, from official TradeInt's India export data.

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India trade slowed through late 2025, yet India's total exports still rose to US$162.69 billion over April-May 2026, up 14.66% year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. This shows an export economy that is expanding its overall trade even as conditions in individual markets shift.

The forces shaping India's export performance in 2026:

• Growth is broadening across the base: India's non-petroleum exports rose to US$70.74 billion in April-May 2026, indicating that overall export strength no longer rests on fuel and that gains are spreading across the wider economy.
• The trade deficit is widening on imports, not weak exports: India's overall trade gap grew over April-May 2026, but the cause was faster import growth during the energy disruption rather than falling exports, which continued to climb.
• External demand is the main risk: A global trade slowdown and softer demand in some Western markets remain the key pressures on India's export momentum, even as newer corridors in Asia and Africa help absorb the shift.

How can international trade businesses track competitors with India trade data?

India export data lets a business see how rival exporters operate: which markets they ship to, how often, and through which overseas buyers. This turns competition into a measurable benchmark.

TradeInt structures this from customs and Bill of Lading records covering over 10 billion shipment trade records and 500 million global trade company profiles, so a competitor's export footprint becomes visible at the shipment level.

Practical ways to apply India export data for competitive intelligence:

• Benchmark a rival's market spread: Look up a competing exporter to see the full list of countries they serve, revealing destination markets you may be missing.
• Gauge how crowded a corridor is: Count how many Indian suppliers already ship a product to a given market to gauge the level of competition before entering it.
• Spot a buyer's supplier switches: Track which suppliers an overseas buyer works with over time to identify accounts that may be open to a new source.
• Compare pricing and volume patterns: Review shipment sizes and frequency across competitors to position your own offer on price and lead time.

These capabilities draw on TradeInt's transaction-date shipment records from customs filings, making them suited for competitor mapping, corridor benchmarking, and buyer research rather than real-time alerts.

Access further India trade statistics overview by the top transacted HS code and country trade partner

Conclusion

India's Q1 2026 export profile shows a diversified economy exporting fuel, technology, medicine, and food at scale. Refined petroleum led at US$12.08 billion, smartphones followed at US$9.23 billion, and pharmaceuticals ranked third at US$5.61 billion, while the US, the UAE, and China took the largest values by destination.

For businesses trading with India, the opportunity lies in tracking exactly where these expanding export flows lead next. Book a demo with TradeInt's trade data experts.

Frequently asked questions

What is India's main export?

India's main export is refined petroleum (HS 2710), valued at US$12.08 billion in Q1 2026. Smartphones and pharmaceuticals follow, reflecting India's mix of energy processing, electronics assembly, and generic-drug manufacturing.

What countries does India export to?

India exports mainly to the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and China. The US is by far the largest market at US$21.12 billion, taking smartphones, pharmaceuticals, and jewellery.

Is India the 2nd largest beef exporter?

India is consistently among the world's largest exporters of beef and buffalo meat, often ranking in the top two or three globally by volume. India's beef and buffalo-meat exports serve markets across Asia and the Middle East, and can be tracked by destination in TradeInt's India export data.

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