Exports grow 3.2 per cent in April, trade deficit lowest in a year

Exports grew by 3.2 per cent to $24.5 billion in April, while imports rose 3.8 per cent leading to lowest trade deficit India has logged in a year.

Imports during the first month of the current financial year aggregated to $37.9 billion, leaving a trade a deficit of $13.4 billion, Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said.

"This is the lowest trade deficit we have had in last one year... This month (April), we see deceleration in imports," Khullar said.

The exporting sectors which registered healthy growth in April include engineering, electronic, pharmaceutical and chemical. However, exports of gems and jewelleries contracted by 25.7 per cent to $2.6 billion.