China goes shopping in India as exports jump 39% and BRICS trade picks up

India’s exports are finding more traction across some of the world’s biggest emerging and developed markets, with shipments to the four core BRICS economies rising 34% to $19.9 billion in the first five months of 2026-27, PTI has reported.

Exports to China alone jumped 39%, while shipments to South Africa surged 58%.

The rise comes as India looks to widen its export base and deepen trade ties beyond its traditional markets. The four core BRICS members— China, South Africa, Brazil and Russia— accounted for 9.2% of India’s total exports in April-August 2026-27, up from 8.1% a year earlier, according to commerce ministry data cited by PTI.

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“As India deepens its engagement with the BRICS bloc, strongest momentum is coming from the BRICS members, especially Core BRICS founding partners– China, South Africa, Brazil, and Russia,” a commerce ministry official said, according to PTI.

Exports to the four countries rose from $14.9 billion in April-August 2025-26 to $19.9 billion in the same period this fiscal.

China leads BRICS export growth

China was the largest contributor to the increase, with India’s exports to the country rising 39% to $9.6 billion during April-August 2026-27.South Africa saw the sharpest growth among the four markets, with exports jumping 58%. Shipments to Brazil and Russia rose 13% and 11%, respectively.

The commerce ministry sees the trend as a sign that the core BRICS markets are becoming increasingly important for Indian exporters.

“India is not only strengthening its trade footprint within BRICS but is also becoming more integrated with the bloc’s largest economies. With exports to Core BRICS growing nearly three times faster than exports to the broader BRICS grouping, these markets are increasingly emerging as a key pillar of India’s export strategy,” the official said, according to PTI.

BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The grouping expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Indonesia joined in 2025, while Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam became partner countries last year, PTI reported.

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India exports to Japan, Italy and South Korea

The export momentum is not limited to BRICS markets. India’s shipments to Japan rose 43% to $3.43 billion during April-August 2026-27.

Mineral fuels were among the biggest drivers, with exports rising by $231.7 million, or 76%. Electronics and aluminium shipments also recorded growth.

Exports to Italy rose about 30% to $3.92 billion during the period, from $3.02 billion a year earlier.

India’s exports to South Korea also increased 22% to $3.21 billion. Minerals and fuels, electronics, aluminium, iron and steel and chemicals were among the key sectors supporting the growth.

The commerce ministry official said India’s exports to South Korea are increasingly linked to the country’s role as a supplier of industrial raw materials, energy products and intermediate goods to South Korea’s manufacturing sector.

(With inputs from PTI)