India’s exports to China, South Africa, Brazil, and Russia grew 34% to $19.9 billion in April-August 2026-27, led by a 39% jump in shipments to China, highlighting the growing importance of the BRICS bloc for India’s export growth.

“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,” an official said.

BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, with Indonesia joining in 2025. Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam became BRICS partner countries last year.

According to the Commerce Ministry data, exports to the four core BRICS economies grew by 34%, rising from $14.9 billion in April-August 2025-26 to $19.9 billion in April-August 2026-27.

The share of the four countries in India’s total exports increased from 9.2% during the first five months of this fiscal from 8.1% in the same period of 2025-26.

Among the core BRICS countries, China emerged as the largest contributor, with Indian exports expanding by 39% to reach $9.6 billion in the first five months of 2026-27.

At the same time, South Africa recorded the fastest growth rate, with exports surging 58% during the period. Brazil and Russia also maintained steady double-digit growth of 13% and 11%.

“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 Commerce Ministry official said.

India’s exports to Japan, Italy, and South Korea

During April-August 2026-27, India’s exports to Japan surged to $3.43 billion, registering a 43% growth over the same period last fiscal.

India is steadily expanding its presence in key sectors that align with Japan’s industrial requirements, ranging from energy products and electronics to advanced materials.

The export momentum is being led by mineral fuels, which recorded an increase of $231.7 million (76%), highlighting growing energy trade between the two countries.

Simultaneously, exports of electronics and aluminium also recorded healthy growth.

Similarly, India’s exports to Italy witnessed a strong surge during the five months of 2026-27, rising to $3.92 billion from $3.02 billion in April-August 2025-26, reflecting a growth of about 30%.

On the other hand, outbound shipments to South Korea grew 22% to $3.21 billion.

The growth story is being driven by India’s increasing role as a supplier of industrial raw materials, energy products, and intermediate goods that feed into South Korea’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

The main sectors that helped push exports to South Korea included minerals, fuels, electronics, aluminium, iron and steel and chemicals.

As South Korea strengthens its position as a global hub for automobiles, electronics, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing, India is increasingly becoming a preferred sourcing partner, driving sustained growth in bilateral trade and reinforcing economic ties between the two nations, the official said.

Published – September 20, 2026 03:30 pm IST

File picture of the Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 24, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Nigeria has been admitted as a “partner country” of the BRICS bloc of developing economies, according to Brazil, the group’s chair.

BRICS was formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009, with South Africa added in 2010, as a counterweight to the Group of Seven (G-7) leading industrialised nations.

In 2023, the bloc added Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE, while Saudi Arabia has been invited to join.

Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have formally applied to become BRICS members, while a few others have also expressed interest.

Nigeria becomes the ninth BRICS partner country, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

“With the world’s sixth-largest population — and Africa’s largest — as well as being one of the continent’s major economies, Nigeria shares convergent interests with other members of BRICS,” the Brazil government said in a statement on Friday.

“It plays an active role in strengthening South-South cooperation and in reforming global governance — issues that are top priorities during Brazil’s current presidency,” it added.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last year threatened 100% tariffs against BRICS if they act to undermine the US dollar.

The bloc’s leaders have voiced their commitment to introduce an alternative payment system that would not be dependent on the dollar.

Ashok Bhushan. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Effective cooperation among the BRICS nations in striking the right balance between promoting sustainability and competition is pertinent to deal with complex challenges, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) chairperson Ashok Bhushan said on October 12.

Emphasising the importance of having free and fair competition in the market place, he also said there is a need for robust mechanism to regulate digital markets.

He was delivering the keynote address at the eighth BRICS International Competition Conference 2023 in the national capital. “Strong anti-trust enforcement is an essential element of the overall public policy design governing the companies,” he said.

Further, he noted that an effective cooperation among the BRICS nations in striking the right balance between promoting sustainability and competition is pertinent in order to deal with complex challenges.

More than 600 delegates are expected to participate in the conference that concludes on October 13. Last time, this conference happened in India in 2013. According to the Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), free and fair competition is a key pillar for the market economy.

“Incorporation of sustainability into competition law had the potential to stimulate innovation, development of cleaner technologies, renewable energy sources and sustainable solutions across various industries,” he noted.