India's trade deficit dips 13.75 per cent to $102 billion in 2009-10

India's trade deficit declined 13.75 per cent to $102.11 billion during the financial year ended 31 March 2010 from $118.40 billion during the previous financial year (April-March 2009), official data showed.

The country exported goods and services of a valued of $19.91 billion (Rs90,573 crore) during March 2010, which was up 54.1 per cent in dollar terms and up 36.9 per cent in rupee terms, compared with the level of exports of $12.92 billion (Rs66,169 crore) during March 2009.

Cumulative value of exports for the financial year (April-March 2009-10) stood at $176.57 billion (Rs8,35,264 crore) against $185.30 billion (Rs8,40,754 crore) in the previous financial year - a negative growth of 4.7 per cent in dollar terms and 0.7  per cent in rupee terms.

India's imports during March 2010 were valued at $27.73 billion (Rs1,26,175 crore) representing a growth of 67.1 per cent in dollar terms and 48.4 per cent in rupee terms over imports valued at $16.60 billion (Rs85,022 crore) in March 2009.

Cumulative value of imports during the April-March 2009-10 financial year was $278.68 billion (Rs13,18,188 crore) against $303.70 billion (Rs13,74,434 crore) registering a negative growth of 8.2 per cent in dollar terms and 4.1 per cent in rupee terms over last year.       

Oil imports during March 2010 were valued at $7.73 billion, which was 85.2  per cent higher than oil imports valued at $4.18 billion last year. Oil imports during April-March 2009-2010 were valued at $85.47 billion, which was 8.7 per cent lower than the oil imports of $93.67 billion last year. 

Non-oil imports during March 2010 were estimated at $20.0 billion, which was 61.0 per cent higher than non-oil imports worth $12.42 billion in March 2009. Non-oil imports during April-March 2009-10 were valued at $193.21 billion, which was 8.0 per cent lower than the level of imports valued at $210.03 billion in April-March 2008-09.