India has witnessed a sharp rise in exports to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partner countries during the first quarter of the 2026-27 fiscal year. Exports to Singapore and Sri Lanka more than doubled, while exports to ASEAN nations grew by over 60 percent. This indicates that trade agreements are effectively yielding results. This information was highlighted in a report. According to an article published in the Tanzanian newspaper The Guardian, the data suggests that India’s expanding network of trade agreements is rapidly translating the benefits of negotiated market access into actual export growth.
In the 2025-26 fiscal year, India’s total exports reached an all-time high of $863.1 billion, comprising $441.8 billion in merchandise exports and $421.3 billion in services exports. The report notes that recent data regarding FTA partner countries indicates India is not merely increasing export volumes but is also actively leveraging preferential trade arrangements to expand its market presence. According to Commerce Ministry data, India’s exports to Singapore surged by 101.2 percent year-on-year to $6.52 billion during the April-June 2026 period, up from $3.24 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Exports to Sri Lanka recorded an even steeper rise, climbing 123.8 percent to $2.35 billion from $1.05 billion in the same period the previous year. Strong growth was also observed in the ASEAN region; India’s exports rose by 61.6 percent to $14.61 billion in the first quarter of the 2026-27 fiscal year, compared to $9.04 billion during April-June 2025. Exports to Malaysia rose by 75.2 percent to $2.54 billion, while exports to Australia increased by 25.2 percent to reach $2.68 billion. Exports to South Korea grew by 22.6 percent to $1.95 billion, and those to Japan rose by 22.4 percent to $1.75 billion. Similarly, exports to Oman increased by 26.4 percent to $1.39 billion, while exports to Nepal rose by 18.1 percent to $2.28 billion.
Exports to Bhutan and Thailand also recorded growth of 16.1 percent and 6 percent, respectively. Recent trade agreements concluded by New Delhi include the India-UAE CEPA, India-Australia ECTA, India-EFTA TEPA, India-Oman CEPA, and India-UK CETA. India has also concluded an FTA with New Zealand, which is currently in the process of implementation. Meanwhile, negotiations with the European Union were concluded in January 2026.
