India's trade deficit rose to $82.4 billion during the first nine months of the current financial year (April-December 2010-11) with a negative trade balance of $2.6 billion in December 2010 as well. 

India's exports grew 36.4 per cent year-on-year to $22.5 billion during December 2010, commerce secretary Rahul Khullar told a press conference in New Delhi today.

The December export figure was also higher compared with exports worth $18.9 billion in the previous month (November 2010). India's exports in November had grown at 26.8 per cent year-on-year.

Exports from the country during the April-December 2010 period rose 29.5 per cent to $164.7 billion while imports grew 19 per cent to $247.1 billion, he said.

India's trade deficit rose to $82.4 billion during the first nine months of the current financial year (April-December 2010-11) with a negative trade balance of $2.6 billion in December 2010. 

Imports into the country were down 11.1 per cent at $25.1 billion in December 2010. Against this, import in November 2010 had grown by 11.2 per cent.