New Delhi, Oct 01: India's exports maintained a growth momentum at nearly 9 per cent during April-August this fiscal but slowed down in the month of August at 4.19 per cent, apparently in the face of appreciating rupee value. Cumulative exports in the first five months was put at $22.5 billion as against 20.6 billion dollars last year, the latest monthly trade data released today said.
In rupee terms, the exports growth was only 4.1 per cent during April-August and in August it recorded a negative growth of 1.5 per cent over the corresponding period in the previous year.
The trade deficit during April-August was put at $6.04 billion which was over two-and-half times of $2.7 billion in the corresponding period in 2002-03.
During April-August 2003-04, the country's imports went up by 22.14 per cent to $28.5 billion from $23.3 billion during the year ago period, the data said.
In August 2003, imports clocked a 15.4 per cent jump to $5.6 billion from $4.8 billion in the same month last year.
Bureau Report