Five Key Sectors Drive India's Record Merchandise Export Surge in October

India's merchandise exports reached a record <b>USD 49.47 billion</b> in October, marking the fastest monthly growth in five years. A report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) highlights that five sectors—engineering goods, petroleum products, electronic goods, gems and jewellery, and chemicals—accounted for 83% of this increase. These sectors collectively rose 59.4% to USD 34.37 billion. While the surge reflects a strong recovery, GTRI cautioned that higher export values may partly stem from increased global commodity prices. Cumulative shipments from April to October reached USD 309.06 billion, representing a 22% year-on-year growth, signaling a significant turnaround in both import-intensive and labour-intensive trade categories.