Supply-chain realignments, US holiday restocking push India’s exports growth in November: GTRI

22 Dec 2025 Evaluate

Highlighting India’s exports growth, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has said that exports of the country rebounded in the month of November 2025. This growth in exports was on account of supply-chain realignments and inventory restocking ahead of the US holiday season in sectors such as electronics and machinery. The commerce ministry data showed that India's merchandise exports to the US rose 22.61% to $6.98 billion in November, after recording contraction for two consecutive months, despite steep 50% tariffs on domestic goods. Imports during the month grew 38.29% to $5.25 billion. During the April-November period of this fiscal year, the country's exports to the US increased 11.38% to $59.04 billion, while imports rose 13.49% to $35.4 billion. The US has imposed a sweeping 50% tariff on Indian goods entering American markets from August 27.

GTRI said that the recovery in exports for November month reflects adjustment to a tougher tariff regime, not relief, and remains fragile, driven by short-term coping strategies rather than a lasting improvement. The drop in India's exports to the US between May and September likely reflected the shock and uncertainty created by impending tariff hikes, which led buyers to delay orders and run down inventories. According to a GTRI report, the fall-and-recovery pattern is visible in 85% of India's November exports across most product categories. These include electronics (smartphones), gems and jewellery, machinery, vehicles and auto components, pharmaceuticals, textiles and garments, carpets, mineral fuels, organic chemicals, plastics, rubber articles, fish, dairy products, and edible fruits and nuts. 

Exports of smartphones fell from $2.29 billion in May to $884.6 million in September, then recovered to $1.8 billion in November. Exports of gems and jewellery plunged from $500.2 million in May to $202.8 million in September, before surging back to $406.2 million in November. It said that a similar pattern played out in machinery and mechanical appliances where exports eased to $516.8 million in September, then returned to $614.6 million last month. Pharmaceutical exports reached $669.2 million in November. Mineral fuels and oils fell moderately despite being tariff-exempt from $291.5 million in May to $251.5 million in September before rising to $274.3 million in November.

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