New Delhi: The country's exports during June 2004 registered a higher growth of 34.32 per cent compared to the corresponding month in 2003. First quarter export in the current fiscal has shown a growth rate of close to 28 per cent in dollar terms.

Provisional figures of foreign trade data based on figures compiled by the directorate-general of commercial intelligence and statistics (DGCI&S) Kolkata, and released by the department of commerce here show that the country's exports during June 2004 are valued at $5,674.87 million, against $4,224.87 million in June 2003. This is higher than the 6.60 per cent export growth recorded in June 2003 over June 2002.

Exports during April-June 2004-05 are valued at $16,498.06 million, which is 27.96 per cent higher than $12,892.91 million during April-June 2003-04. In rupee terms, exports were Rs 74,139.12 crore during the first quarter of the current fiscal, which is 22.21 per cent higher than that during April-June 2003-04.

Imports during the first quarter of the current fiscal at $22,434.16 million represented an increase of 30.69 per cent from $17,166.42 million in April-June 2003-04. Imports during June 2004 were valued at $7,942.68 million, an increase of 43.02 per cent from $5,553.50 million in June 2003.
As both exports and imports have been running at a higher gear, the country's trade deficit during the quarter under review has shot up to $5,936.10 million from $4,273.51 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2003-04.

On the import front, oil imports during the first quarter of the current fiscal are estimated at $6,622.05 million, which is 44.69 per cent higher than the oil imports valued at $4,576.74 million in the corresponding period last year. Non-oil imports in April-June 2004 are estimated at $15,812.11 million, which is 25.60 per cent higher than $12,589.50 million recorded in June 2003