Indian businesses should leverage free trade agreements (FTAs), international partnerships and the government’s Export Promotion Mission to expand their global footprint and boost shipments, Sanjay Budhia, Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Committee on Exports and Managing Director of Patton International Ltd, said on Friday.
According to the Millennium Post report, India’s cumulative exports were estimated at $476.20 billion during April–September 2026, registering year-on-year growth of 13.84%.
Budhia attributed the growth to the resilience and competitiveness of Indian industry. He particularly highlighted opportunities in electronics, engineering goods, chemicals and textiles, encouraging businesses, especially MSMEs, to make better use of trade agreements.
India Expands Its Network of Trade Agreements
India has finalised eight free trade agreements over the past five years, according to the report. Agreements with Mauritius, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Australia, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc and the United Kingdom (UK) have been implemented.
A similar agreement with New Zealand is scheduled to come into force on October 20, 2026, while a trade pact with the 27-nation European Union (EU) is expected to be signed in December, the newspaper reported.
These agreements offer opportunities for Indian exporters to access international markets, develop business partnerships and strengthen their competitiveness.
Textiles and Manufacturing Among Key Export Sectors
Budhia highlighted textiles alongside electronics, engineering goods and chemicals as sectors that could benefit from stronger export promotion and greater utilisation of trade agreements.
For textile and manufacturing businesses, FTAs can provide opportunities to explore new markets and develop international customer relationships. MSMEs, in particular, could benefit from understanding the tariff provisions, market-access conditions and requirements applicable to their products in partner countries.
The Export Promotion Mission was also identified as an initiative businesses should leverage to strengthen their international presence and increase shipments.
Merchandise Exports Rise in September
Government data cited in the report showed that merchandise exports increased by 23% year-on-year to $44.4 billion in September 2026, compared with $36.08 billion in September 2025.
During April–September 2026–27, merchandise exports rose by 18.51% to $259.89 billion. Services exports, however, declined marginally by 0.87% to $36.35 billion in September, from $36.67 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year.
The figures indicate growth in merchandise shipments during the first half of the financial year, alongside a slight year-on-year decline in monthly services exports.
Global Markets and Changing Technology Create New Challenges
According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), the United States, European Union and United Kingdom account for approximately 85.1% of India’s software exports.
GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava also noted that generative AI tools and automated workflows were reducing billing hours and contract sizes in entry-level programming, software maintenance and traditional IT-enabled and business process outsourcing services.
The changing technology landscape adds to the importance of diversifying export markets and strengthening competitiveness across industries.
As India continues to expand its network of trade agreements, industry leaders are encouraging businesses to make more effective use of available market-access opportunities and export promotion initiatives to support sustained export growth.