With record $22.6 bn September shortfall, India’s 6-mth merchandise trade deficit hits $78.13 bn

For the six months ended 30 September, the country imported goods valued at $276.02 billion while ts exports for the peropd stood at $197.89 billion, showing a cumulative shortfall of $78.13 billion. 

India’s imports surged to $56.39 billion (Rs4,14,812.41 crore), Imports in September 2021, showing a jump of 84.77 per cent in dollar terms and 84.97 per cent in rupee terms over imports of valued at $30.52 billion (Rs2,24,254.02 crore) in September 2020. 

Cumulative value of imports for the period April-September 2021 stood at $276.02 billion (Rs20,40,890.34 crore), against $151.94 billion (Rs11,39,032.05 crore) during the period April-September 2020, showing a jump of 81.67 per cent in dollar terms and a growth of 79.18 per cent in rupee terms.

Exports from the country stood at $33.79 billion (Rs2,48,605.74 crore) in September 2021 against exports valued at $27.56 billion (Rs2,02,508.54 crore) in September 2020, showing a growth of 22.63 per cent in dollar terms and a growth of 22.76 per cent in rupee erms.

The commodities/commodity groups that have recorded growth during September 2021 vis-à-vis September 2020 are coffee (62.55 per cnt), cashew (49.4 pe cent), petroleum products (47.91 per cent), cotton yarn/fabs/made-ups, handloom products etc (40.5 per cent), engineering goods (36.83 per cent), organic and inorganic chemicals (29.65 per cent), man-made yarn/fabs/made-ups etc (26.49 per cent), electronic goods (26.33 per cent), other cereals  (21.18 per cent), fruits and vegetables (21.13 per cent), gems & jewellery (19.71 per cent), plastics & linoleum (18.61 per cent), jute mfg -including floor covering (16.04 per cent), marine products (12.67 per cent), RMG of all textiles (9.24 per cent), mica, coal and other ores, minerals-including processed minerals (8.82 per cent), leather and leather products (7.41 per cent), cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items (5.64 per cent), rice (5.62 prer cent), carpet (4.42 per cent), tea (3.2 per cent) and handicrafts-excluding handmade carpet (2.29 per cent).

The commodities/commodity groups which have recorded negative growth during September 2021 vis-à-vis September 2020 are iron ore (-72.77 per cent), oilmeals (-39.05 per cent), oilseeds (-26.77 per cent), tobacco (-16.31 per cent), ceramic products and glassware (-14.15 per cent), spices (-3.56 per cent), meat, dairy and poultry products (-10.77 per cent) and drugs and pharmaceuticals (-8.45 per cent).