<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p>[NEW DELHI] India’s trade gap widened in April, as the nation’s import bill rose amid a spike in global oil prices due to the Middle East conflict.</p><p>The gap between exports and imports stood at US$28.4 billion in April, data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed on Friday (May 15).</p><p>That was higher than the US$26 billion deficit forecast by economists in a Bloomberg survey. The gap narrowed to US$20.6 billion in March.</p><p>Inbound shipments rose 10 per cent in April to US$71.9 billion from the year before, while outbound shipments stood at US$43.6 billion, up 13.8 per cent.</p><p>A wider deficit will put further pressure on the currency that is Asia’s worst performer so far in 2026.</p><p>India is the world’s third-largest importer of oil and heavily reliant on energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway effectively blocked for more than two months because of the Iran war. </p><div><div><div><p>SEE ALSO</p><div><div><div><div><p><img height="501" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/8aa31e774a5408469b1533fb3a5211e17795e13c36b10525b2ce0d153f6ca507/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="800" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/8aa31e774a5408469b1533fb3a5211e17795e13c36b10525b2ce0d153f6ca507/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw"/></p></div><p></p><h3><span>India clears US$3.9 billion push to turn coal into gas to reduce imported fuel reliance</span></h3><p></p></div></div><div><div><div><p><img height="2018" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/c2edfea91d909d7e14ff3982d210bad05a7ba76dfc1459e5edbfdd0893bc7607/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="2885" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/c2edfea91d909d7e14ff3982d210bad05a7ba76dfc1459e5edbfdd0893bc7607/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw"/></p></div><p></p><h3><span>India’s wholesale inflation quickens to 3½-year high of 8.3% as energy costs soar</span></h3><p></p></div></div><div><div><div><p><img height="3757" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/662c145ba4b8328516d9ed7f0e5110731699bdf9808ffd1d5ef86e2e12e0ab64/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="5635" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/662c145ba4b8328516d9ed7f0e5110731699bdf9808ffd1d5ef86e2e12e0ab64/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw"/></p></div><p></p><h3><span>India hikes fuel prices for the first time in four years amid Iran war crude spike</span></h3><p></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><h3>Navigate Asia in<br/>a new global order</h3><p>Get the insights delivered to your inbox.</p></div></div><p>To shield the economy, the government has announced emergency steps, including raising retail fuel prices and tightening gold imports to check foreign-exchange outflows and support the rupee. BLOOMBERG</p><div><p>Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. <span>Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter.</span> Delivered to your inbox. Free.</p></div></div></div>

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<p>India's trade deficit widened to US$28.4 billion in April, exceeding economists' forecasts of US$26 billion, as import costs surged due to rising global oil prices amid Middle East conflicts. Inbound shipments increased by 10% to US$71.9 billion, while exports rose 13.8% to US$43.6 billion. The government is implementing emergency measures, including raising fuel prices and tightening gold imports, to stabilize the currency and manage foreign-exchange outflows.</p>

- India's trade deficit widened in April to $28.4 billion, driven by rising global oil prices due to the Middle East conflict.  
- The increase in imports by 10% to $71.9 billion outpaced exports, which grew by 13.8% to $43.6 billion.  
- The deficit puts additional pressure on the Indian rupee, which is the worst-performing currency in Asia for 2026, prompting the government to implement measures to support the currency.

India’s trade deficit widens in April as import costs rise