Exports up for 10th month, but at slower rate of 4.4%, to $23.6 bn in June

Imports rise 19.01% to $36.52 bn; trade deficit for Q1 doubles to $40 bn

Export growth slowed in June to 4.39 per cent, even as the country managed to see 10 straight months of rise in outbound trade.

The figure was $23.56 billion, compared to $22.57 billion in the same month last year, according to data issued by the commerce and industry ministry.

Growth has been down since March, when it hit a high of 27 per cent, steepest in a little over five years. In May, it was eight per cent. Cumulative export in the current financial year (FY), starting April 1, is about $72 billion.

Among major foreign exchange earners, engineering export grew 14.8 per cent, while most categories