Exports surge 45.8% in Aug to $33 bn; trade deficit widens to $13.8 bn

Merchandise imports continued to widen at $47.09 billion in August

India exported goods worth $33.38 billion in August, up 45.76 per cent year-on-year (YoY), amid robust external demand, data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed.

The 45 per cent surge can be partly attributed to the impact of low base due to disruption caused by Covid-19. Items such as engineering products, gems and jewellery and petroleum products continued to drive growth. 

Exports have been consistently rising and stayed above the $30-billion mark since March. On a sequential basis, exports fell 6 per cent from the record level of $35.43 billion in July. As compared to pre-Covid levels, the growth was