Exports decline by 1.66% year-on-year to $25.97 billion in January

Imports too declined by 0.75 per cent USD 41.14 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 15.17 billion during the month under review

The country's exports dropped 1.66 per cent to $25.97 billion in January, the sixth straight month of contraction, on account of a significant fall in shipments of petroleum, plastic, carpet, gems and jewellery, and leather products.
 

Imports also fell for the eighth consecutive months, down 0.75 per cent to $41.14 billion in January, widening the trade deficit to a seven-month high of $15.17 billion, according to the government data released on Friday.
 

Gold imports shrunk by about 9 per cent to $1.58 billion during the month under review.
 

Last time, it was in June 2019 when the trade deficit aggregated