Exports at $160 bn, grow 52% in April- September

India's exports for the half year April-September 2011 have registered a growth of 52 per cent, at $160 billion.

Commerce secretary Rahul Khullar told the media that during the period April-September 2011, imports grew at 32.4 per cent reaching $233.5 billion and a negative balance of trade $73.5 billion, during April-September.

Khullar also said that India's imports in September 2011 were $34.6 billion and export $24.6 bn, with a negative balance of trade of $9.8 billion.

Exports friom the sectors that picked up during April-September were engineering, ($46.4 billion), registering a growth of 103 per cent; petroleum and oil products, which rose 53% ($27 billion); gems and jewellery registered a growth of 23 per cent ($18.5 billion); drugs and pharmaceuticals rose 33 per cent ($6.5 billion); leather grew 26 per cent ($2.25 billion); cotton yarn and fabric rose 22.5 per cent ($3.4 billion); electronics, 67 per cent ($5.7 billion); readymade garments rose 32 per cent ($6.8 billion).

During April-September 2011 import growth rose in the following sectors: petrleum and oil products, 42 per cent ($70.4 billion); gold and silver rose 80 per cent ($31.1 billion); machinery, 34 per cent ($17.4 billion), electronics, 33 per cent ($16.9 billion), organic and inorganic chemicals 26 per cent ($9.3 billion) and coal 43 per cent ($8.4 billion).

The commerce secretary clarified that the figures were  rough estimates and the final figures would be released subsequently.