India’s metal exports ride global electrification wave

New Delhi: Rising global demand for electrical equipment, electric vehicles, batteries, transformers, and renewable energy equipment is triggering a surge in India’s exports of key metal intermediates such as copper winding wire, aluminium alloys and refined lead.

While aluminium alloy exports climbed 24% over the past two years to $1.29 billion in FY26, with Mexico—a key automotive manufacturing hub—emerging as the largest destination, those of insulated copper winding wire accelerated 58% between FY24 and FY26, with the US being the leading destination. “These gains reflect rising demand from regional manufacturing and metal processing industries as companies diversify supply chains across Asia,” said a government official.

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Similarly, India’s exports of refined lead rose 56% during FY24 and FY26 to $928.38 million, thanks to demand from Asian markets, led by Singapore, followed by South Korea and Vietnam. China, Bangladesh, and Thailand also emerged as new markets. Aluminium alloy exports to Southeast Asia are growing at a fast clip. Shipments to Vietnam spiralled to $81.6 million last fiscal from $8 million in FY24, and those to Malaysia increased to $57.8 million from $37.6 million during the same period.

“Overall, India’s aluminium alloy exports are evolving from traditional commodity trade towards a diversified, high-value manufacturing export portfolio,” said the official cited above. “This highlights India’s integration into global automotive and electronics supply chains.”

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Exports of other industrial products such as ferro-silico-manganese and stranded aluminium wire also increased during the period under review.

India’s exports of insulated copper winding wire—a critical intermediate input in many industries—saw sustained and broad-based growth over the last five years. Beyond the major markets, India’s export footprint broadened across emerging economies such as Lebanon, Türkiye and Djibouti, whereas Oman, Iraq, Egypt, Kenya, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka continued to provide steady demand.

“The strong performance underscores India’s growing competitiveness in manufacturing high-quality electrical conductors used across power transmission, industrial machinery, automotive electronics and clean energy applications,” said a trade expert, adding the growth momentum is expected to sustain on accelerating global investment in electrification, grid modernisation and renewable energy.