Giriraj Singh Flags Record $863.1 Bn Exports in FY26
Synopsis
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh flagged India's record $863.1 billion exports in FY26 on 29 July 2026, crediting Free Trade Agreements including the India-UAE CEPA and India-Australia ECTA. The milestone aligns with the Foreign Trade Policy 2023-2028's FTA-led export strategy.
Key Takeaways
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh shared that India's exports reached a record $863.1 billion in FY26 .
The government attributes the growth in part to Free Trade Agreements such as the India-UAE CEPA (signed February 2022) and India-Australia ECTA (in force December 2022).
The Foreign Trade Policy 2023-2028 formally positioned FTAs as a core export-growth tool.
Textile manufacturers and exporters are among the key beneficiaries of preferential tariff access under these pacts.
FTA negotiations with the UK and the EU remain active and could further expand India's export reach.
The Commerce Ministry's official FY26 trade data release will be the definitive confirmation of the headline figure.
India's merchandise and services exports crossed a record $863.1 billion in FY26 — a milestone that Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh highlighted on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, pointing to Free Trade Agreements as a key driver of the country's surging global trade footprint.
FTAs at the Centre of India's Export Engine
The post, shared via the NaMo App, underscores the government's long-running bet on bilateral trade pacts as a growth lever. The logic is straightforward: lower tariffs open doors, and India has been kicking them open at pace. The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, signed in February 2022, and the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, which entered into force in December 2022, both targeted sectors including textiles — squarely in Giriraj Singh's ministerial brief.
The Foreign Trade Policy 2023-2028, released in March 2023, formally enshrined FTAs as a pillar of export strategy, setting the policy runway that FY26's numbers now appear to validate. For a minister whose portfolio sits at the intersection of manufacturing and global competitiveness, the $863.1 billion figure is both a vindication and a campaign point.
Textiles in the Export Surge
Textile exporters are among the stakeholders with the most direct stake in FTA outcomes. Preferential access to markets like the UAE and Australia reduces the tariff disadvantage Indian garment and fabric manufacturers face against rivals from Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Cambodia. A record export year, if the Commerce Ministry's official data confirms the headline figure, would signal that Indian textile firms are capitalising on that access.
The broader pattern is consistent with the Make in India manufacturing push — successive administrations have used FTAs to diversify export destinations and reduce dependence on any single market. Active negotiations with the UK and the EU remain in the pipeline, and their conclusion could add another leg to the growth story.
What the Commerce Ministry's Data Will Settle
The $863.1 billion figure is striking — it would represent a substantial leap in India's total export footprint. The Commerce Ministry's official FY26 trade data release will be the definitive confirmation. Any new FTA signings or reviews in the next parliamentary session will also be closely watched by exporters and trade analysts alike.
For now, a senior cabinet minister has planted the flag. The number is in the public domain. The pressure on the Commerce Ministry to back it with granular data — and on negotiators to keep the FTA pipeline moving — just got a little louder.
Point of View
And the textiles ministry wants credit for it. By amplifying the $863.1 billion figure, the minister is building a political case for deeper trade liberalisation at a time when FTA negotiations with the UK and EU are at sensitive junctures. It also positions the BJP's trade diplomacy — particularly the UAE and Australia pacts — as tangible economic wins ahead of any electoral narrative. The Commerce Ministry's forthcoming official data will determine whether the number holds up to scrutiny, but the political framing is already in motion.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is India's total export figure for FY26?
According to a post by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, India's exports reached a record $863.1 billion in FY26 . The Commerce Ministry's official data release will provide full confirmation.
Which Free Trade Agreements helped boost India's exports?
The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (signed February 2022) and the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (in force December 2022) are among the key FTAs credited with boosting export growth.
What is India's Foreign Trade Policy 2023-2028?
Released in March 2023 , the Foreign Trade Policy 2023-2028 placed Free Trade Agreements at the centre of India's export strategy, aiming to diversify markets and increase the country's global trade share.
How do FTAs benefit Indian textile exporters?
FTAs reduce import tariffs in partner countries, giving Indian textile and garment manufacturers preferential access that narrows the competitive gap with rivals from Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
Is India negotiating more Free Trade Agreements?
Yes. India has active FTA negotiations underway with the United Kingdom and the European Union , which, if concluded, could further expand export opportunities across a wide range of sectors including textiles.
