India’s electronics exports are rising speedily up the ranks, having strengthened position as the country’s third – and fastest-growing – overseas sales category in the first six months of FY26, commerce ministry data showed. Electronics could be on course to overtake petroleum product exports in two years, amid curbs on the purchase of Russian oil, and take second place after engineering products, experts said.
The electronics category was number 7 on the exports list in FY22. In the year ended March, it was the fastest-growing in the top 10 categories.
Since then, it has accelerated further.
Seen Doubling in 3 Years
It is now the quickest in the first six months of FY26 among all 30 export categories. In its race to the third spot, electronics dislodged gems and jewellery and chemicals from third and fourth place, respectively, in FY25. Before that, in its surge to number 3 from number 7 in FY22, it had outpaced drugs and pharmaceuticals and readymade garments.
According to the half-yearly export data released by the commerce ministry, electronics exports surged 42% to $22.2 billion — about half of which is accounted for by Apple’s iPhones — from $15.6 billion in the year earlier.
Petroleum products fell 16.4% to $30.6 billion from $36.6 billion. Engineering led at $59.3 billion, up 5.35% from $56.3 billion the year prior. Petroleum, still India’s second-largest export category, has been in decline — from $97.4 billion in FY23, to $63.3 billion in FY25. Electronics exports in the last three years have jumped 63% — from $23.5 billion in FY23 to $38.5 billion in FY25. “At the current rate, electronics exports will double from FY23 to FY26,” an analyst said.
