India's exports fall by 13.8 % in September

India's exports fell by 13.8 per cent to $ 13.608 billion in September this year from the level of $ 15.789 billion registered during the same month last year, an official statement said here today.

This was the 12th straight month in which the country's exports had registered a fall, mainly due to the lower demand from developed countries as a result of the global economic downturn. But the extent of fall has been gradually reducing.

In August this year, the country's exports had fallen by 19.4 per cent to $ 14.289 billion from $ 17.724 billion in the same month of 2008.

In rupee terms, the country's exports had fallen by 8.4 per cent from Rs 71,941 crore in September last year to Rs 65,916 crore in September this year.

According to the statement, the cumulative value of exports for the period April-September this year was $ 77.855 billion (Rs 378,196 crore) as compared to $ 108.907 billion (Rs 464,451 crore) in the corresponding period of 2008, a fall of 28.5 per cent in dollar terms and 18.6 per cent in rupee terms.

It said India’s imports during September, 2009 were valued at $ 21.377 billion (Rs.103,546 crore) representing a decrease of 31.3 per cent in dollar terms (minus 27.0 per cent in rupee terms) over the level of imports valued at $ 31.136 billion ( Rs. 141,865 crore) in September, 2008.

The cumulative value of imports for the period April- September 2009 was $ 124.584 billion (Rs. 605,075 crore) as against $ 185.002 billion (Rs. 790,644 crore) registering a negative growth of 32.7 per cent in dollar terms and 23.5 per cent in rupee terms over the same period last year.

Oil imports during September, 2009 were valued at $ 6.343 billion which was 33.5 per cent lower than the figure of $ 9.543 billion in the corresponding period last year. Oil imports during April- September, 2009 were valued at $ 34.808 billion which was 45 per cent lower than the level of $ 63.285 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Non-oil imports during September, 2009 were estimated at $ 15.034 billion which was 30.4 per cent lower than non-oil imports of $ 21.592 billion in September, 2008. Non-oil imports during April- September, 2009 were valued at $ 89.776 billion which was 26.2 per cent lower than the level of such imports valued at $ 121.717 billion in April- September, 2008.

The trade deficit for April- September, 2009 was estimated at $ 46.729 billion which was lower than the deficit of $ 76.095 billion during April-September, 2008.

NNN