India's exports up by 19 pc despite rupee rise

New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) India's exports increased by 19.26 per cent in dollar terms but a poor 4.31 per cent in rupee terms in September this year, while imports recorded a modest increase of 2.31 per cent in dollar terms but declined by 10.51 per cent in rupee terms.

Exports went up to 12.79 billion dollar and imports to 17.21 billion dollar in September, official data released today said.

Trade deficit declined to 4.42 billion dollar in September from 6.09 billion dollar in the year-ago period.

In the first six months of current financial year (April-September), exports registered a healthy a growth of 18.52 per cent in dollar terms but a modest 5.34 per cent in rupee terms as compared to the same period last year. Imports went up by 25.51 per cent in dollar terms but by 11.66 per cent in rupee terms during the period, the data said.

Total exports in the April-September improved to 72.28 billion dollars from 60.98 billion dollars during the corresponding period last year, while imports went upto 109.20 billion dollar from 87.01 billion dollar.

Trade deficit during this six-month period declined to 17.83 billion dollar from 28.12 billion a year ago, the data showed.

In September, India's oil imports at 5.49 billion dollar were up by 7.98 per cent from 5.09 billion dollar in the same month last year, while for the first six months of current fiscal at 31.39 billion dollar, it increased by 8.26 per cent from 29 billion dollar during the same period last fiscal.

Non-oil imports in September this year were estimated at 11.71 billion dollar, down by 0.15 per cent from 11.73 billion dollar in September, 2006. Non-oil imports during April-September, 2007 at 77.80 billion dollar were up by 34.13 per cent from 58 billion dollar in the same period last year.

UNI