Exports dip for 17th month, trade deficit at 5-yr low

New Delhi: Continuous fall in shipments of petroleum and engineering products has led to decline in

exports for 17th month in a row in April by 6.7% to $20.5 billion. Imports too dipped by 23.1% to $25.4

billion in the month under review as against $33 billion in April 2015.

Trade deficit in April more than halved to $4.8 bilion as compared to $11 bilion in the same month last

year. The trade gap was a five-year low figure. It was at $2.6 billion in December 2010. The Commerce

Ministry said that the trend of falling exports is in tandem with other major world economies.

“The growth in exports have fallen for US (3.9%), EU 0.04%), China (25.3%) and Japan (1.1%) for

February over the corresponding period of previous year as per WTO statistics,” it said.

Exporters body FIEO said downfall in exports has been arrested to some extent both in March and April

and hoped that shipments move into positive territory from June onwards. On the other hand,

Engineering Export Promotion Council said, “There has been an alarming deterioration in exports of

highly-job oriented engineering exports”. Exports have been falling since December 2014 due to weak

global demand and slide in oil prices.

Oil imports in April dipped by 24% to $5.6 billion.Non-oil imports too fell by 22.8% to $19.8 billion.

In April, overseas shipments of petroleum products shrank 28.2% to $1.9 billion, while that of

engineering goods declined by 19% to $4.8 billion. These two sectors contribute significant in the

country’s total exports.Exports of tea, coffee, gems and jewellery and pharmaceuticals recorded positive

growth.

NGS INDIA