India’s exports to FTA partners fall for third straight quarter: NITI Aayog data

Weather ePaper Today’s Paper Journalism of Courage Home ePaper Politics Explained Opinion India Business Premium Cities UPSC Entertainment Sports World Lifestyle Tech Subscribe Sign In TrendingUPSC OfferIPL 2026US NewsPuzzles & GamesLegal NewsFresh TakeHealthResearch🎙️ Podcast Advertisement function checkAndLoadWindowSizeScript() { if (window.jQuery) { // jQuery is loaded, include your script jQuery(document).ready(function($) { // Your existing script for checking window width if (window.innerWidth) var page_w = window.innerWidth; else if (document.all) var page_w = document.body.clientWidth; if (page_w > 1024) { $(".add-left, .add-right").show(); } else { $(".add-left, .add-right").hide(); } }); } else { // jQuery is not loaded, check again after 0.2 seconds setTimeout(checkAndLoadWindowSizeScript, 200); } } // Initial call to the function checkAndLoadWindowSizeScript(); NewsBusinessIndia’s exports to FTA partners fall for third straight quarter: NITI Aayog data India’s exports to FTA partners fall for third straight quarter: NITI Aayog data The contraction in exports was led by Singapore, where exports declined 34%, followed by Australia at 22.2%, says the report. Written by: Ravi Dutta Mishra3 min readNew DelhiApr 21, 2026 04:36 AM IST India’s trade performance with FTA countries assumes significance as New Delhi’s trade has deepened with preferential trading partners. Make us preferred source on Google Whatsapp twitter Facebook Reddit PRINT Amid India’s aggressive push for global trade integration, the existing free trade agreements (FTA) are not translating to higher exports, as a Niti Aayog report on Monday showed that India’s exports to FTA partners contracted by 7% year-on-year during the October–December quarter of the last financial year. The exports to FTA partners had slipped by 9% during the first quarter of FY26 and 7% during the second quarter. India’s trade performance with FTA countries assumes significance as New Delhi’s trade has deepened with preferential trading partners. The share of trade with FTA partners has increased significantly from 4.6% in 2006 to 28.8% in 2024, indicating a more than six-fold rise, the Niti Aayog Trade Watch Quarterly report showed. “India’s exports with its FTA partner countries in Q3 FY26 stood at $40.26 billion, reflecting a decline of 7% y-o-y, indicating some moderation in export performance across key partner countries. In contrast, total imports from FTA partners increased by 6% y-o-y, reaching $70.98 billion during the quarter,” the report said. The report said the contraction in exports was led by Singapore, where exports declined 34%, followed by Australia, 22.2%, Bhutan, 22.9% and Mauritius, 14%. However, exports to Thailand jumped 8.3%, Sri Lanka 9.9%, the UAE 4.2%, and Malaysia 2.8% during the third quarter of FY26. Imports from FTA partners increased from $66.75 billion to $70.98 billion, registering a growth of 6% y-o-y, driven by higher inflows from ASEAN 8.6%, Singapore 25.8%, Japan 8.1%, Thailand 20.5%, Malaysia 4.1%, and SAFTA 12.1%. However, imports also declined from Australia by 4.4%, South Korea 2.1%, the UAE 0.4%, Bhutan 40.4%, and Mauritius 87.6%. India has signed 13 FTAs with various countries and regions, including Japan and South Korea, ASEAN, SAFTA, Mauritius, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. The timeline of agreements show a steady progression from early partnerships, such as Sri Lanka (2000) and Singapore (2005) to more recent agreements like the UAE and Australia in 2022, demonstrating a strategic push to widen trade engagement, Niti Aayog said. The report said the developments in West Asia have influenced the pace of progress on the proposed India-GCC FTA, reflecting the link between regional conditions and trade diplomacy. “The Gulf region is an important partner for India for energy imports, exports, and remittances, with a significant share of trade routed through this region. The Middle East accounts for a large share of India’s energy imports and overseas workforce linkages. The ongoing engagement on the FTA indicates efforts to expand market access, support trade diversification, and strengthen export growth,” the report said. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, specializing in economic policy and financial regulations. With over five years of experience in business journalism, he provides critical coverage of the frameworks that govern India's commercial landscape. Expertise & Focus Areas: Mishra’s reporting concentrates on the intersection of government policy and market operations. His core beats include: Trade & Commerce: Analysis of India's import-export trends, trade agreements, and commercial policies. Banking & Finance: Covering regulatory changes and policy decisions affecting the banking sector. Professional Experience: Prior to joining The Indian Express, Mishra built a robust portfolio working with some of India's leading financial news organizations. His background includes tenures at: Mint CNBC-TV18 This diverse experience across both print and broadcast media has equipped him with a holistic understanding of financial storytelling and news cycles. Find all stories by Ravi Dutta Mishra here ... Read More