India’s trade deficit showed a remarkable improvement in November 2025, narrowing sharply to $24.53 billion from $41.68 billion in October. This sharp decline reflects a combination of strong export growth and a moderation in imports, signaling a positive trend in the country’s external trade position.
The country’s merchandise exports reached $38.13 billion, the highest November exports in at least a decade. This increase was driven by shipments to multiple markets including the United States, UAE, and China, showcasing the diversification of India’s export base. Sectors such as engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and chemicals contributed significantly to the record export performance.
On the import side, merchandise imports declined to $62.66 billion, lower than October’s elevated levels. Analysts note that this moderation was partly due to reduced purchases of gold and other commodities, which had surged in the previous month. The combination of higher exports and softer imports substantially reduced the merchandise trade deficit.
Looking at the broader trade picture, including both goods and services, India’s total exports stood at $73.99 billion in November 2025, up from $64.05 billion a year earlier. Meanwhile, total imports eased slightly to $80.63 billion from $81.11 billion in November 2024. Consequently, the overall trade deficit narrowed sharply to $6.64 billion from $17.06 billion YoY, indicating that improvements were seen not only in merchandise trade but also in services exports.
Economists pointed out that the depreciation of the Indian rupee contributed to the competitiveness of exports, making Indian goods more attractive in global markets. Policymakers view the narrowing trade deficit as a partial normalization following October’s spike, but emphasize that long-term improvement will depend on sustained export demand and import management.
A narrower trade gap can also ease pressure on the current account deficit (CAD), giving the government and central bank greater policy flexibility in managing macroeconomic conditions. Analysts expect that if export growth continues and imports remain controlled, India’s external sector balance could remain stable over the coming months.
In summary, India’s merchandise trade deficit in November 2025 contracted sharply to $24.53 billion, driven by record exports and moderated imports. Exports reaching $38.13 billion mark a decade-high for November, while imports cooled enough to allow a significant narrowing of the trade gap. These trends suggest a resilient external trade performance, boosting optimism for India’s economic stability and external sector health heading into 2026.