Date:15/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/15/stories/2006031504440900.htm

Back Exports up 26.34 pc in April-Feb; 12% rise in Feb

Our Bureau

11-month imports rise 33 pc; trade deficit also rises

Export card
Trade deficit during the first 11 months shot up to $37,575.61 million from $24,739.67 million.
Oil imports during the first 11 months at $30.96 billion, 49.35 per cent higher than $26.55 billion earlier.
In rupee terms exports up 24 pc in 11 months, imports up 30 pc.

New Delhi , March 14

The country's exports in February 2006 showed a relatively moderate growth of 12.31 per cent in dollar terms over February 2004, but the overall merchandise trade during the first 11 months of the current fiscal clocked 26.34 per cent over the corresponding previous period.

Provisional data released by the Department of Commerce show that cumulatively, exports during April-February were valued at $88.7 billion, 26.34 per cent higher than $70.2 billion earlier.

Exports in February 2006 were valued at $7.8 billion, 12.31 per cent higher than $6.9 billion earlier.

Imports during April-February were valued at $126.33 billion, representing an increase of 33 per cent over $95 billion earlier. As a result of higher import growth and reasonably impressive export growth, the overall trade deficit during the first 11 months shot up to a staggering $37,575.61 million from $24,739.67 million.

Imports in February 2006 were valued at $11.04 billion, representing an increase of 21.38 per cent over $9.095 billion earlier.

Oil imports during the first 11 months were valued at $30.96 billion, 49.35 per cent higher than $26.55 billion earlier.

When contacted about the salutary export performance, the Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, told Business Line: "No doubt the export performance is impressive. But one has to wait for disaggregated details particularly to see the performance of textiles, leather, handloom and marine products as they have employment connotations and bear direct relations to the common man."

In rupee terms, the exports were valued at Rs 3,93,157.16 crore during April-February this fiscal, 24.35 per cent higher than corresponding previous period. In rupee terms, the imports registered an increase of 30.77 per cent, an official release said.