Exports jump 27.6% in March; trade deficit swells to US $10.4 billion

New Delhi: India’s exports grew by 27.6 percent to US $29.23 billion in March on account of robust performance by sectors like petroleum, textiles, engineering goods and gems and jewellery.

Imports too jumped 45.25 percent to US $39.66 billion last month from US $27.3 billion in March 2016.

A huge spike in gold imports pushed the trade deficit to US $10.43 billion during the month under review from US $4.4 billion a year ago.

The imports of the precious metal rose to US $4.17 billion in March this year compared to US $973.45 million in the same month last year.

For the full fiscal 2016-17, exports saw a growth of 4.71 percent at US $274.64 billion against US $262.3 billion in 2015-16.