TradeNew Delhi credits trade ties but analysts see crude oil price hikes among driversA tugboat assists a large container ship in berthing at Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram, India, on June 9, 2025. © APKIRAN SHARMAAugust 20, 2026 10:36 JSTNEW DELHI -- India's merchandise exports expanded 15.9%, or $17.75 billion, in the April-June quarter from a year earlier, official data showed, of which ASEAN was behind a third of the total increase in value, highlighting the bloc as a potential driver of India's export-oriented growth. These figures, however, are partially boosted by higher oil prices.