Exports grow 3.2%to $24.5 billion in April; trade deficit down

Exports grew by 3.2 per cent to $24.5 billion in April, while imports rose 3.8 per cent leading to lowest trade deficit India has logged in a year, Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said on Thursday.

Imports during the first month of the current fiscal aggregated to $37.9 billion, leaving a trade a deficit of $13.4

billion.

"This is the lowest trade deficit we have had in last one year. . . This month (April), we see deceleration in imports," Khullar said.

The exporting sectors which registered healthy growth in April include engineering, electronic, pharmaceutical and chemical.

However, exports of gems and jewelleries contracted by 25.7 per cent to $2.6 billion.