Trade boost: Exports rebound in November; Piyush Goyal says shipments back in ‘positive territory’

India’s merchandise exports, which had fallen sharply in October, have bounced back this month and entered positive territory till November 21, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.After chairing a meeting of the Board of Trade, Goyal told reporters that the latest quick estimates show a clear uptick, according to PTI.“Exports are in positive territory,” he said, adding that sectors like seafood have recorded healthy growth.He said the country’s export trajectory has been improving steadily and that several sectors are showing significant expansion compared with the same period last year.India’s exports had contracted 11.8% to $34.38 billion in October, hit by the impact of higher tariffs imposed by the US. The trade deficit widened to a record $41.68 billion, driven mainly by a surge in gold imports.For April–October FY26, exports inched up 0.63% to $254.25 billion, while imports rose 6.37% to $451.08 billion.On the status of special economic zones (SEZs), Goyal said inter-ministerial discussions are “going on very actively” to make units in these zones more competitive. He added that the surplus capacity in SEZs can be leveraged to reduce imports from countries such as China and ASEAN.