Written by Ravi Dutta MishraDecember 15, 2025 09:51 PM IST 4 min readIndia’s shipments to the US in November surged 22.61 per cent to nearly $7 billion despite the full effect of the 50 per cent US tariffs that came into effect on August 27. (Representative Photo)India’s goods exports in November jumped 19 per cent, aided by a weaker rupee and strong demand across markets, including China, Europe, and the US, particularly for products exempted from tariffs, helping narrow the trade deficit to a five-month low of $24 billion, data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry showed on Monday.Driven by engineering and electronics goods exports, shipments jumped 19 per cent to $38.13 billion compared to $31.94 billion, while imports declined slightly to $62.22 billion compared to $63.87 billion, largely due to a 60 per cent decline in gold imports. Higher exports helped narrow the trade deficit to $24 billion in November compared to $32 billion last year.India’s shipments to the US in November surged 22.61 per cent to nearly $7 billion despite the full effect of the 50 per cent US tariffs that came into effect on August 27. A sharp surge in November follows two consecutive months of decline in India’s exports to the US in September and October. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India and the US are close to signing an initial framework deal.“We have had six formal rounds of negotiations where we have discussed both the full-fledged Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) for which we signed the Terms of Reference in March, and also an interim framework deal that can address the reciprocal tariffs. We are very close on at least the framework deal, which we feel can be done in a short period of time, but I would not like to put a time period to it,” he added.Agrawal said that the ministry is finalising the detailed guidelines of the Rs 25,060-crore export promotion mission, and a few components of it will be rolled out this week itself.He said that this help may not be enough to deal with the steep 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US, but it will definitely bring relief for exporters in areas like liquidity.The sharp rise in exports in November also comes amid a rapid weakening of the rupee against the US dollar, with the 90-dollar mark being breached earlier this month in December. A weaker rupee is good for exporters as it makes Indian goods and services cheaper for foreign buyers.Story continues below this adThe rupee, which hit a fresh all-time low on Monday after it fell as low as 90.79 per dollar during the day, was 5.6 per cent lower in November against the US dollar compared to the same month last year. This is despite the greenback having weakened sharply by almost 8 per cent over the last 12 months.Trade data showed that goods shipments to China surged by a sharp 90 per cent to $2.20 billion and 35.53 per cent to $619.99 million to Hong Kong. Exports also surged in European markets such as the UK, Germany, Spain and Belgium. However, shipments to the Netherlands, Bangladesh and South Africa declined.SC Ralhan, president, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), said that the sharp surge in trade underscores the ability of Indian exporters to efficiently meet global demand, even amid continued geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties around the world.Ralhan said that continued dynamism in several key sectors, as well as diversification of export markets, played a key role in supporting export growth. He stated that with continued policy support, improved logistics efficiency, and competitive export financing, India’s exports are well-positioned to maintain this positive trajectory in the months ahead.Story continues below this adPankaj Chadha, Chairman, Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPC India), said that after falling sharply in October, engineering goods exports rebounded in November, indicating resilience.“The latest numbers are quite encouraging, especially in light of the 50 per cent punitive tariff imposed by the Trump administration on the bulk of items in India’s export basket. The strong performance in November 2025 shows the resilience of the engineering industry and also how it has been swiftly adapting to the evolving global situation with constant support from the government,” Chadha 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 © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd