Exports cross $200 bn mark in Feb, to touch $235 bn in 2010-11

New Delhi, Apr 1: India's exports grew by an impressive 50 per cent in Feb, crossing the USD 200 billion mark during the first eleven months of 2010-11 on the back of rising demand from the US and other markets.

Exports went up by 49.7 per cent year-on-year during Feb to USD 23.5 billion, taking the Apr-Feb 2010-11 figure to USD 208.2 billion, an increase of 31.4 per cent over the year-ago period and past the yearly target of USD 200 billion.

Imports also increased by 21.2 per cent in the month under review to USD 31.7 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 8.1 billion, according to the Commerce Ministry data released today.

During Apr-Feb 2010-11, imports grew by 18 per cent to USD 305.3 billion over the same period last year. The trade gap for the period stood at USD 97 billion.

The exporting sectors which performed well during the 11 months of fiscal include engineering (81 per cent), petroleum and oil lubricants (34 per cent), cotton yarn and made-ups (43 per cent), chemicals (22 per cent) and electronics (40 per cent).

"The growth which we are seeing is basically from the markets of Asia, Latin America and Africa. In these new markets demand for our products are increasing," Ramu Deora, the President of India's apex exporters body FIEO, said.

However, Deora said that demand is still weak in several European markets.

The US and Europe were the traditional markets for Indian exporters, but after the global economic crisis, exporters increased their engagement in new markets of Asia, Latin America and Africa.

The government is providing duty incentives to exporters for these new markets.

Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar had said that going by this trend, the country's exports are expected to touch the figures of USD 230-235 billion. Imports may end up to USD 350 billion and balance of trade to USD 105-115 billion by the end of 2010-11.

Oil imports in Feb dipped by 0.3 per cent to USD 8.21 billion from USD 8.24 billion in Feb 2010. However, non-oil imports grew by 31 per cent to USD 23.48 billion from USD 17.9 billion.

PTI