NEW DELHI: India’s merchandise exports increased 2.3% to US$ 20.01 billion in November 2016 over a year ago. Meanwhile, merchandise imports surged 10.4% to US$ 33.02 billion. The trade deficit jumped 25.9% to 16-months high of US$ 13.01 billion in November 2016 from US$ 10.34 billion in November 2015. Oil imports rose 5.9% to US$ 6.84 billion, while the non-oil imports gained 11.7% to US$ 26.18 billion in November 2016 over November 2015. The share of oil imports in total imports was 20.7% in November 2016, compared with 21.6% in November 2015. India’s basket of crude oil increased 4.6% to US$ 44.46 per barrel in November 2016 over November 2015.
Among the non-oil imports, the major contributors to the overall rise in imports were gold imports rising 23.2% to US$ 4.36 billion, pearls, precious & semi-precious stones 60.9% to US$ 1.57 billion, crude petroleum & products 5.9% to US$ 6.84 billion, coal 32.5% to US$ 1.28 billion, pulses 53.6% to US$ 0.61 billion, electronic goods 5.4% to US$ 3.54 billion, electrical & non-electrical machinery 8.3% to US$ 2.23 billion and chemical material & products 23.6% to US$ 0.46 billion. The imports also improved for vegetable oil by 9.6% to US$ 0.91 billion, metaliferrous ores & minerals 10.9% to US$ 0.54 billion, project goods 30.8% to US$ 0.21 billion, wood & products 12.4% to US$ 0.44 billion and artificial resins 4.9% to US$ 0.98 billion.
On the other hand, the imports have declined for transport equipment 37.9% to US$ 1.19 billion, iron & steel 16.2% to US$ 0.93 billion, silver 36.3% to US$ 0.18 billion, medicinal & pharmaceutical products 8.4% to US$ 0.39 billion, organic & inorganic chemicals 2.5% to US$ 1.21 billion, fruits & vegetables 9.8% to US$ 0.16 billion, pulp and waste paper 16.4% to US$ 0.06 billion and textile yarn fabric, made-up articles 9.3% to US$ 0.12 billion in November 2016.
On exports front, the engineering goods recorded an increase in exports by 11.6% to US$ 4.96 billion, followed by iron ore 1012.8% to US$ 0.19 billion, marine products 27.9% to US$ 0.57 billion, petroleum products 3.4% to US$ 2.41 billion, fruits & vegetables 43.6% to US$ 0.25 billion, drugs & pharmaceuticals 5.8% to US$ 1.27 billion, organic & inorganic chemicals 5.9% to US$ 1.07 billion, and leather & leather products 6.4% to US$ 0.42 billion. However, the exports declined for, gems & jewellery 12.8% to US$ 2.53 billion, rice 18.2% to US$ 0.35 billion, man-made yarn/fabrics/made-ups 11.0% to US$ 0.30 billion, RMG of all textiles 2.9% to US$ 1.15 billion, coal & other ores, minerals 8.1% to US$ 0.24 billion, plastic & linoleum 2.2% to US$ 0.43 billion, tea 6.9% to US$ 0.06 billion, in November 2016.
