NEW DELHI: The country’s exports rose at the fastest pace in three months to reach USD 27.84 billion in August on account of healthy growth in petroleum products, engineering, pharma, and gems and jewellery shipments.
Imports too grew by 25.41 per cent in August to USD 45.24 billion due to costlier crude oil shipments.
In August, the growth rate in overseas shipments touched a three-month high of 19.21 per cent. Earlier in May, exports had recorded a growth of 20.18 per cent.
Trade deficit during the month narrowed to USD 17.4 billion as against USD 12.72 billion in the same month last year, according to the data released by the commerce ministry. In July, the trade deficit soared to a near five-year high of USD 18.02 billion.
Exports of petroleum products, engineering, pharma and gems and jewellery in August rose by 43.25 per cent, 31.81 per cent, 28.52 per cent and 34.76 per cent respectively.
Oil imports in August grew by 51.62 per cent to USD 11.83 billion and non-oil imports were up by 18.17 per cent to USD 33.41 billion.
Gold imports in August jumped by 92.62 per cent to USD 3.64 billion. The continuous fall in the value of domestic currency appears to be helping exports.
During April-August this fiscal, the exports recorded a growth of 16.13 per cent to USD 136.09 billion, while imports during the first five months of this fiscal grew by 17.34 per cent to USD 216.43 billion. PTI
