India's merchandise trade deficit widened to $25.05 billion in December 2025, as imports continued to outpace exports, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry on Thursday. The deficit was higher than $23.9 billion recorded in December last year, reflecting elevated import demand amid global uncertainty.
Merchandise exports stood at $38.51 billion during the month, registering a modest year-on-year increase from $37.80 billion in December 2024. Export growth was supported by gains in electronics goods, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, marine products, meat and dairy, even as demand conditions remained uneven across major global markets.
-
Indian Markets Turning Corner After Two Tough Years, Says Sandeep Tandon -
NDTV Profit Ignite 2026: Experts See Opportunity In Equities, Stay Bullish For Long-Term -
Buy Right, Sit Tight Does Not Work for Individual Stocks, Says Dinshaw Irani -
'Worst Is Behind': Quant MF Sees Market Bottom, Flags 'Extreme Euphoria' In Midcaps -
India's Mutual Fund Industry Could Become A $1 Trillion Opportunity, Say Fund Managers -
'Foreign Investors Are Baraatis': Raamdeo Agrawal's Take On LTCG Tax -
Stay Invested Through Market Cycles: Raamdeo Agrawal at NDTV Profit Ignite -
Ramesh Damani Remains Bullish On India For Next 20-30 Years, Sees Bargains Amid Market Weakness -
CAS Came After A Long Consultation Process: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFIT IGNITE -
Aim To Cut FPI Onboarding Time From Mth To Five Days: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFI
Merchandise imports, however, rose sharply to $63.55 billion in December, driven by higher inbound shipments of crude oil, electronic goods, chemicals, machinery and fertilisers, pushing the trade gap wider.
Also Read | Layoffs Are Rising In Tech, But These Skills Are Helping People Unlock Better Pay
For the April-December 2025 period, cumulative merchandise exports rose 4.33% to $451.2 billion, while imports increased 4.95% to $547.8 billion, taking the merchandise trade deficit to $96.6 billion, up from $88.4 billion in the same period last year.
Services trade continued to provide a cushion. Services exports in December are estimated at $35.5 billion, while services imports stood at $17.4 billion, resulting in a healthy surplus that helped offset part of the merchandise trade gap.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said India's focus on export diversification and services-led growth helped manage external pressures, even as domestic demand keeps imports elevated.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
