Exports up marginally to $28 bn in December on slump in engineering, gems and jewellery sector growth; gold imports decline

New Delhi: The country’s exports grew marginally by 0.34 percent to $27.93 billion in December 2018 on account of negative growth in sectors such as engineering and gems & jewellery, according to a commerce ministry data. Imports, however, dipped by 2.44 percent to $41 billion during the last month, narrowing the trade deficit to $13 billion. [caption id=“attachment_3006206” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters.[/caption] The trade deficit stood at $14.2 billion in December 2017. Gold imports declined by 24.33 percent to $2.56 billion in December last year as against $3.39 billion in the same month of 2017. During April-December this fiscal, exports grew by 10.18 percent to $245.44 billion. Imports rose by 12.61 percent to $386.65 billion. The trade deficit widened to $141.2 billion during the nine months of the current fiscal from $120.57 billion in April-December 2017-18. Oil imports in December 2018 rose by 3.16 percent to $10.67 billion.     To keep watching India’s No. 1 English Business News Channel – CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News – CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day.