Merchandise exports aggregated to USD 19.94 billion in June, 2010.
Helped by an impressive rise in June, exports grew by a hefty 45.7 percent to USD 79 billion in the first quarter of the current fiscal, according to Commerce Ministry data released Monday.
Though most of the sectors posted robust expansion – be it petroleum products, readymade garments, engineering or pharmaceuticals -- Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar has cautioned that news from the largest two markets -- the US and Europe -- "is far from cheerful... Summer is not over. It is still not going to be easy".
The US and Europe together account for about 35 percent of the country's exports, which stood at USD 246 billion in 2010-11.
"Export growth is going to continue for another three months till September. The growth trend will not be as good in the third and fourth quarters and will get restricted to around 35-40 percent," Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President Ramu Deora said.
Deora also expressed concern over high inflation and interest rates.
The government is looking 25 percent growth annually so that exports touch USD 500 billion in 2013-14.
Though imports grew by 42.4 percent to USD 36.8 billion in June, the trade deficit of USD 7.6 billion was almost half the level of USD 14.9 billion seen in May, lessening concerns over the country's balance of payments situation.
In April-June, 2011-12, inbound shipments rose by 36.2 percent to USD 110.6 billion, led by the import of USD 30.5 billion worth of petroleum products. The trade gap during the period stood at USD 31.6 billion.
Oil and non-oil imports increased by 30 percent and 47.8 percent, respectively, during the month under review to USD 10.18 billion and 26.6 billion.
During the first quarter, oil imports grew by 18.1 percent to USD 30.52 billion from USD 25.84 billion. Non-oil imports, too, increased by 44.68 percent to USD 80 billion from USD 55.35 billion in April-June, 2010-11.
During the first quarter of this fiscal, the sectors which registered healthy export growth include engineering (94 percent), petroleum products (60 percent), gems and jewellery (19 percent), readymade garments (34 percent), electronics (69 percent) and chemicals (52 percent).
During April-June 2011-12, petroleum imports grew by 18 percent to USD 30.5 billion, while imports of machinery rose by 49 percent, electronics by 71 percent, chemicals by 19 percent, coal by 27 percent and vegetable oil by 55 percent.
In May, the country's exports grew by 56.9 percent year-on-year to USD 25.9 billion.
Deora said withdrawal of Duty Entitlement Pass Book scheme (DEPB) from October 1 would also impact exports.
"The recent hike in interest rates from 11 percent to 11.25 percent by SBI would make export finance costlier and Indian goods would become non-competitive in the international market," he said, adding other banks would also follow suit and hike interest rates.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC), in its report on the state of economy, said the merchandise trade deficit is projected at USD 154 billion, or 7.7 percent of the GDP, in 2011-12.
In 2010-11, the trade gap was USD 130.5 billion, or 7.59 percent of the GDP.
The invisibles trade surplus stood at USD 86.2 billion, or 5 percent of the GDP in 2010-11, and is projected at USD 100 billion, or 5 percent, in 2011-12.
PTI
