Exports Up 9.91% In April-Sept

The export growth in April-August was 9.8 per cent. Exports during April-August 1996 touched $13.5 billion.

Imports during April-September grew 5.20 per cent compared to last year. Imports in April-August showed a growth of just 4.69 per cent.

Significantly, non-oil imports during April-September 1996 declined by 3 per cent as compared to the same period last year.

Exports during September are estimated at $2.59 billion, up 9.17 per cent from $2.38 billion in September 1995. Imports during September 1996 are valued at $2.87 billion representing an increase of 5.91 per cent over the level of imports valued at $2.71 billion in September 1995.

 

Imports during April-September 1996 are estimated at $17.95 billion, which is 5.2 per cent higher than imports during the same period last year at $17.06 billion. This is mainly on account of a sharp rise in oil imports during April-September 1996 which are 42.1 per cent higher than imports during the corresponding period last year.

Non-oil imports during April-September 96 at $13.5 billion suffered a fall of 3 per cent over the same period last year. This shows a significant slowdown over the growth in the first two months of the year.

The slowdown in imports and fall in trade deficit is consistent with the commerce ministry's expectations.

The ministry has been arguing that imports and the trade deficit will fall this year.