Exports rise 36% in Sep, imports up 17.2%

India's exports maintained theirgrowth momentum in September, 2011, rising by 36.3 per cent year-on-year to $24.8billion, though there was a "deceleration" due to uncertainty in theUS and Europe, Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar on Wednesday said.

On the other hand, India's imports grew by 17.2 percent to $34.6 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $9.8 billion for themonth.

During April-September, 2011-12, the country's exportsincreased by 52.1 per cent to $160 billion.

Khullar said there is growth in country's exports, but adeceleration is clear. "Good news is back. Export continue to grow overlast year, but the heady numbers have gone, it is clear there isdeceleration," he said.

During the first six months this fiscal, imports expanded by32.4 per cent to $ 233.5 billion. The trade gap during the period amounted to $73.5billion.

The sectors that exhibited major growth during theApril-September, 2011, period include engineering, gems and jewellery andpetroleum.

Engineering exports grew by 103 per cent to $46.4 billion,petroleum shipments by 53 per cent to $27 billion and gems and jewelleryconsignments by 23 per cent to $18.5 billion vis-a-vis the same period lastfiscal.

India'spetroleum imports during the six-month period grew by 42 per cent to $70.4billion.