India’s US-bound exports in March up 35% as exporters frontloaded shipments to beat reciprocal duties

NEW DELHI : Indian Exporters rushed to beat the reciprocal tariffs expected to come into effect on April 2, pushing goods worth over $10 billion to the US last month alone — a sharp jump of 35 per cent compared to March last year, according to data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Wednesday.

Even as the reciprocal tariffs were subsequently paused for 90 days, exporters globally scrambled last month to accelerate shipments before the duties kicked in. Tech giant Apple, for instance, flew several last-minute consignments of iPhones to the US before the tariffs were due to take effect.

Official data showed that India’s exports to the US in March stood at $10.14 billion, up 35.06 per cent from $7.51 billion in March 2024. For the full financial year (April 2024 to March 2025), exports to the US totalled $86.51 billion — an increase of 11.59 per cent compared to $77.52 billion during the same period in the previous year.

Meanwhile, goods imports from the US also rose to $3.70 billion in March 2025, 9.63 per cent higher than in March 2024. Over the same financial year, imports rose 7.44 per cent to $45.53 billion, compared to $42.13 billion in 2023–24.

The data further showed that India’s total goods and services exports in 2024–25 reached a record $820.93 billion, up 5.50 per cent from $778.13 billion in the previous financial year. Services exports rose by 12.45 per cent to $383.51 billion, while goods exports saw marginal growth of 0.08 per cent, reaching $437.42 billion.

Just hours before the April 2 deadline, US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause, stating that 75 countries had approached the US seeking to sign trade agreements. However, Trump simultaneously raised tariffs on China to 145 per cent.