India’s largest carmaker and passenger vehicle (PV) exporter - Maruti Suzuki (MSIL) - said on Sunday that their exposure to the Middle East is not very high and it accounts for about 12.5% of total exports. The remark by MSIL comes as tensions in the Middle East are at a high level after the US and Israeli forces targeted key Iranian sites over the weekend.
The operation, which US officials described as a preemptive measure against Iran’s nuclear advancements, resulted in the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has swiftly responded with a barrage of ballistic missiles aimed at Israeli cities and important Middle East hubs such as Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain.
The attacks from both sides have intensified geopolitical risks in West Asia and triggered immediate repercussions for global energy markets. Crude oil prices, which had already been firming up amid rising tensions, climbed from around $65 per barrel to nearly $72-73 per barrel over the past few days.
With direct military engagement now reported and uncertainty around further escalation, volatility in oil, currency and equity markets is expected to remain elevated. The attacks are also expected to disrupt important trade routes which are critical for India’s exports and imports.
Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Maruti Suzuki said, “We are closely monitoring the situation. However, our exposure to the Middle East as an export region is not very high. This year, for example, it accounts for about 12.5% of our total exports.”
He added, “In fact, as we export to nearly 100 countries, we have ensured that our portfolio is well diversified and inherently de-risked… We are not just increasing exports; we are expanding them in a broad-based manner, ensuring that we remain de-risked at the same time.”
So far in the financial year 2026 (April-Feb), MSIL has exported more than 4 lakh PVs compared to nearly 3 lakh units exported in the 11 month period of the last fiscal. Other top car exporters for India include Hyundai Motor India, Volkswagen India, Nissan Motor India and Kia India, with major export destinations being Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
