India’s Exports Cross $437 Billion in FY25: Engineering, Agri, Pharma & Electronics Drive Over 50% Share

New Delhi, May 16: India’s merchandise exports for the financial year 2024-25 stood at an impressive $437.42 billion, with over 50% of the value contributed by just four sectors — engineering goods, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, according to official data released by the government. This highlights the country’s growing capabilities in value-added manufacturing and diversified export strength.

Sectoral Contribution Breakdown

• Engineering goods led the pack with a 26.67% share, clocking exports worth $116.67 billion, up 6.74% from the previous year.

• Agriculture and allied products contributed 11.85%, totaling $51.86 billion, registering a 7.36% growth.

• Electronics exports rose a remarkable 32.46%, reaching $38.58 billion and comprising 8.82% of total exports.

• Pharmaceuticals accounted for 6.96%, with shipments worth $30.47 billion, marking a 9.4% year-on-year rise.

Electronics: Fastest Growing Export Segment

The electronics sector emerged as the fastest-growing among the top contributors. Within this category, computer hardware and peripherals witnessed a staggering 101% growth, rising from $0.7 billion to $1.4 billion. Top destinations included the UAE, US, Netherlands, UK, and Italy.

Engineering Goods Steady Above $100 Billion Mark

India’s engineering exports have stayed consistently above the $100 billion mark since 2021-22, after surging from the earlier range of $73-83 billion (2014-2021). Major export destinations included the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK, and Germany.

Pharma and Agri Reach New Heights

India’s pharmaceutical exports now reach over 200 countries, continuing an upward trend since 2014-15. The sector remains one of India’s strongest value-driven export categories.

In agriculture, key growth drivers included:

• Rice: Exported a record $12.5 billion, maintaining India’s 40% share in global rice exports. Major buyers: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, UAE, USA, Yemen.

• Spices: Rose slightly to $4.45 billion, with strong demand from China, USA, UAE, Bangladesh, and Thailand.

• Coffee: Jumped to $1.81 billion (from $1.29 billion), with Karnataka and Kerala leading production. Exported mainly to Italy, Russia, Germany, UAE, Belgium, USA.

• Tobacco: Increased to $1.98 billion, with India ranking as the second-largest global producer. Major importers: UAE, Belgium, Indonesia, Egypt, USA, Turkey.

• Fruits & Vegetables: Exports touched $3.9 billion, led by products such as grapes, pomegranates, mangoes, onions, and green chillies. Top markets: Bangladesh, UAE, Netherlands, Nepal, Malaysia.

• Marine Products: Valued at $7.2 billion, with the export footprint expanding to 130 countries, up from 105 in 2014-15.

Policy Push and Diversification Paying Off

The strong performance across sectors underlines India’s ongoing shift towards high-value manufacturing and diversified agricultural exports, supported by government initiatives like PLI schemes, trade agreements, and export infrastructure enhancements.

As the country continues to aim for a $1 trillion export target, the performance in FY25 marks a significant step forward, particularly in electronics and value-added sectors.