India’s Exports Gain Ground in BRICS, Japan, Italy and South Korea

• India’s exports to core BRICS economies rose 34% to $19.9 billion in April-August 2026-27.

• Shipments to China climbed 39%, while exports to South Africa surged 58%.

• Core BRICS markets now account for 9.2% of India’s total exports.

• Exports also rose strongly to Japan, Italy and South Korea.

• Minerals, fuels, electronics, aluminium, steel and chemicals supported growth.

India’s exports are gaining momentum across several major emerging and developed economies, with shipments to the four core BRICS countries rising sharply in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to a PTI report citing commerce ministry data.

Exports to China, South Africa, Brazil and Russia increased 34% to $19.9 billion during April-August 2026-27. In the same period last year, India’s exports to these four markets stood at $14.9 billion.

The stronger performance comes as India seeks to diversify its export destinations and strengthen trade relationships beyond its traditional markets. The four core BRICS economies accounted for 9.2% of India’s total exports during April-August 2026-27, compared with 8.1% a year earlier.

A commerce ministry official said India’s closer engagement with the BRICS bloc is being supported most strongly by the founding partners of the grouping, particularly China, South Africa, Brazil and Russia.

China Emerges as Biggest Driver of BRICS Export Growth

China contributed the most to the increase in India’s exports to the core BRICS economies. Shipments to China rose 39% to $9.6 billion during April-August 2026-27.

South Africa recorded the fastest growth among the four markets, with exports from India jumping 58%. Shipments to Brazil increased 13%, while exports to Russia rose 11%.

The commerce ministry views the trend as evidence that core BRICS markets are becoming more significant for Indian exporters. The official said India is not only expanding its trade presence within BRICS but also becoming more closely connected with the bloc’s largest economies.

According to the official, exports to the core BRICS countries are growing nearly three times faster than exports to the wider BRICS grouping. This, the official said, shows that these markets are emerging as an important part of India’s export strategy.

BRICS initially included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The bloc expanded in 2024 with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Indonesia joined in 2025. Several countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, became partner countries last year, according to PTI.

The expansion of BRICS has increased the grouping’s global economic weight, but the latest export data shows that India’s strongest trade momentum within the bloc is still coming from the original large markets.

Exports to Japan Rise 43%

India’s export growth is not limited to the BRICS economies. Shipments to Japan also recorded strong growth during April-August 2026-27.

Exports to Japan increased 43% to $3.43 billion in the first five months of the fiscal year. Mineral fuels were among the main contributors to this increase, with exports in that category rising by $231.7 million, or 76%.

Electronics and aluminium shipments to Japan also grew during the period. The performance indicates that India is gaining ground in sectors linked to energy products, industrial inputs and manufactured goods.

Japan remains an important developed market for India, and the latest growth suggests stronger demand for Indian products across both commodity-linked and value-added segments.

Italy Shipments Climb Nearly 30%

India’s exports to Italy also expanded at a healthy pace. Shipments rose about 30% to $3.92 billion during April-August 2026-27, compared with $3.02 billion in the same period a year earlier.

The rise reflects broader momentum in India’s trade with European markets. Italy is among India’s key trading partners in the European Union, and the latest data points to stronger demand for Indian goods during the period.

While the report did not provide a detailed sectoral split for exports to Italy, the overall increase adds to the picture of India’s widening export base across major economies.

South Korea Demand Supports Indian Exports

India’s exports to South Korea grew 22% to $3.21 billion during April-August 2026-27.

Minerals and fuels, electronics, aluminium, iron and steel, and chemicals were among the main sectors supporting the increase. These categories are closely linked to South Korea’s manufacturing economy, which depends heavily on imported raw materials, energy products and intermediate goods.

A commerce ministry official said India’s exports to South Korea are increasingly tied to the country’s role as a supplier to Korean industry. Indian shipments are supporting South Korea’s manufacturing sector through energy products, industrial inputs and intermediate materials.

The increase in exports to South Korea also points to India’s improving position in Asian supply chains. As manufacturers look for reliable sources of raw materials and intermediate goods, India appears to be expanding its role in regional trade networks.

Export Strategy Shows Signs of Diversification

The latest data suggests that India’s export strategy is becoming more diversified across both emerging and developed markets. Growth in shipments to China, South Africa, Brazil and Russia shows deeper trade links with BRICS economies. At the same time, strong increases in exports to Japan, Italy and South Korea indicate progress in major developed and industrial markets.

The 34% rise in exports to the four core BRICS economies is particularly significant because it outpaces the growth seen in the broader BRICS grouping. It also shows that the original members of the bloc continue to offer meaningful opportunities for Indian exporters.

China’s role is especially notable. Despite geopolitical and trade tensions, it remains a major destination for Indian exports. The 39% rise in shipments to China suggests that Indian exporters are finding demand in one of the world’s largest markets.

South Africa’s 58% increase also highlights the potential for stronger engagement with African markets through existing BRICS relationships. Brazil and Russia posted more moderate but still positive growth, showing that India’s trade with all four core markets is expanding.

Beyond BRICS, the strong performance in Japan, Italy and South Korea reflects India’s ability to serve advanced industrial economies. Growth in mineral fuels, electronics, aluminium, steel and chemicals points to demand for both resource-linked and manufactured products.

The export figures come at a time when India is trying to strengthen its position in global trade and reduce dependence on a limited set of markets. By expanding shipments to large emerging economies and developed markets simultaneously, India is building a wider base for export growth.

For Indian exporters, the data signals rising opportunities across multiple regions. For policymakers, it supports the case for deeper trade engagement with strategic partners, including BRICS members and key economies in Asia and Europe.

If the current trend continues, core BRICS markets could become an increasingly important pillar of India’s export growth, while Japan, Italy and South Korea may provide additional momentum in industrial and high-value sectors.