India’s April-September merchandise trade deficit hits $83.71 bn

However, the September 2019 trade deficit figure was lower compared to a deficit of $14.95 billion in September 2018.

India imported goods valued at $243.28 billion in April-September 2019-20 while its imports during the period stood at $159.57 billion.

India’s merchandise exports in September 2019 stood at $26.03 billion (Rs1,85,710.81 crore), compared with $27.87 billion (Rs2,01,234.95 crore) in September 2018, showing a negative growth of 6.57 per cent in dollar terms and a negative growth of 7.71 per cent in rupee terms.

Cumulative value of exports for the period April-September 2019-20 stood at $159.57 billion (Rs11,16,766.77 crore) against $163.48billion (Rs11,21,474.97 crore) during the period April-September 2018-19, registering a negative growth of 2.39 per cent in dollar terms and a negative growth of 0.42 per cent in rupee terms.

Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in September 2019 stood at $19 billion, compared to $19.84 billion in September 2018, showing a negative growth of 4.20 per cent. Exports of goods other than petroleum and gems and jewellery in April-September 2019-20 stood at $118.41 billion, against $119.01 billion for the corresponding period in 2018-19, a decrease of 0.50 per cent.

India imported goods valued at $36.89 billion (Rs2,63,158.22 crore) in September 2019, which was 13.85 per cent lower in dollar terms and 14.90 per cent lower in rupee terms over imports of $42.82 billion (Rs3,09,222.94 crore) in September 2018. 

Cumulative value of imports during April-September 2019-20 was $243.28 billion (Rs17,01,997.27 crore), against $261.63 billion (Rs17,94,884.20 crore) during the period April-September 2018-19, registering a negative growth of 7.01 per cent in dollar terms and a negative growth of 5.18 per cent in rupee terms.

Crude oil imports in September 2019 were valued at $8.98 billion (Rs64,034.71 crore), which was 18.33 per cent lower in dollar terms and 19.32 per cent lower in rupee terms, compared with $10.99 billion (Rs79,373.45crore) in September 2018. Oil imports in April-September 2019-20 stood at $64.30 billion (Rs4,49,870.52 crore), which was 8.22 per cent lower in dollar terms and 6.37 per cent lower in rupee terms compared with oil imports worth $70.06 billion (Rs4,80,497.71 crore), over the same period last year.

Non-oil imports in September 2019 were estimated at $27.91 billion (Rs1,99,123.51 crore), which was 12.30 per cent lower in dollar terms and 13.37 per cent lower in rupee terms, compared with $31.83 billion (Rs2,29,849.49 crore) in September 2018. Non-oil imports in April-September 2019-20 were valued at $178.97 billion (Rs12,52,126.75crore), which was 6.57 per cent lower in dollar terms and 4.74 per cent lower in rupee terms, compared to $191.57 billion (Rs13,14,386.50 crore) in April-September 2018-19. 

Imports of goods other than oil and gold stood at $26.64 billion in September 2019, recording a negative growth of 8.88 per cent, compared with non-oil and non-gold imports of $29.23 billion in September 2018. Non-oil and non-gold imports were valued at $163.17 billion in April-September 2019-20, recording a negative growth of 6.18 per cent, compared with non-oil and non-gold imports worth $173.93 billion in April-September 2018-19.

India’s overall exports (merchandise and services combined) in April-September 2019-20 are estimated to be around $267.21 billion, showing a growth of 1.93 per cent over the same period last year. Overall imports in April-September 2019-20 are estimated to be $312.16 billion, showing a negative growth of 3.15 per cent over the same period last year.