Feb exports rise 22% YoY to $33.8 bn; trade deficit widens to $21.19 bn

Remain above $30-bn mark but pace of growth slows for 2nd month in a row

Merchandise exports witnessed 22.36 per cent growth year-on-year (YoY) at $33.81 billion in February, led by demand for products such as engineering goods, petroleum products and gems and jewellery.

Even though exports remained above the $30-billion mark for the last one year, its pace of growth slowed for the second month in a row. 

This is after hitting a record high — in value of goods exported — during December, according to preliminary data released by the commerce and industry ministry.  India’s merchandise exports during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year was $374.05 billion. This met over 93 per