Exports hit record $863 billion in FY26 despite US tariffs & Middle East crisis: Official

India’s exports touched an all-time high of $863 billion in 2025-26 despite disruptions from the West Asia conflict and US tariff measures, underscoring the resilience of the country’s export ecosystem, a senior Commerce Ministry official said on Wednesday.“This has been a very difficult year, from US tariffs to West Asia crises, but despite that, we have proved that India is very resilient as far as the export ecosystem is concerned. India’s total exports reached an all-time high of $863 billion in FY 2025-26,” Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Ajay Bhadoo said, quoted PTI.Speaking at an outreach programme on the achievements of Gujarat’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Ahmedabad, Bhadoo said India’s exports have nearly doubled over the last decade from about $441 billion to $863 billion.Engineering goods, petroleum products, electronics, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, and chemicals have been among the key drivers of export growth, he said.Bhadoo added that Gujarat has emerged as a major export hub, contributing nearly $110 billion to the country’s outbound shipments.Highlighting the government’s focus on expanding manufacturing and exports, he said new SEZs would continue to be promoted across the country.“There are sustained efforts to promote new special economic zones in Gujarat and across India. Recently, the government notified an SEZ to be set up by Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited in Dholera,” he said.Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ) Zonal Development Commissioner Dnyaneshwar B Patil said SEZs have emerged as important engines of investment, employment, innovation and exports.“SEZs have emerged as key engines of investment, employment, innovation, and exports, playing a vital role in realising the vision of Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat 2047,” Patil said.According to Patil, exports from Gujarat SEZs increased from Rs 21,79,808 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 23,00,793 crore in 2025-26, with the state accounting for about 21% of India’s total SEZ exports.“Investments in Gujarat SEZs have grown from Rs 21,22,654 crore to Rs 22,28,624 crore, while employment has increased from 63,475 to over 2.22 lakh jobs during the same period,” he added.Patil said four semiconductor SEZs promoted by CG Semi Technologies, Kaynes Semicon, Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing and Micron Technology have been notified in Gujarat.He also outlined a roadmap for Gujarat’s SEZs, targeting annual growth of 20% in exports and 10% in employment generation.