Continuing its upward journey, exports in January 2006 touched $8.45 billion, registering a growth of 21.46% over exports worth $6.9 billion in January 2005. In April-January 2005-06, growth was slightly lower at 18.87% with total exports at $74.97 billion compared to $63.07 billion worth of exports in the same period of the previous fiscal.

According to figures released by the commerce ministry, imports during January 2006 grew at a lower rate of 10% and was valued at $11.36 billion compared to imports worth $10.26 billion in January 2005. In April-January 2005-06, imports were valued at $108.80 billion registering a 26.67% increase over imports worth $85.89 billion registered in the comparable period of 2004-05.

Trade deficit for April-January 2005-06 is estimated at $33.82 billion which is about 48% higher than the deficit of $22.82 billion registered in the same period of the previous fiscal.

Oil imports during April-January 2005-06 increased by 46.91% to $ 35.29 billion compared to $24.02 billion of oil imports in April-January 2004-05. Non-oil imports during the first ten months of the current fiscal was estimated at $ 73.51 billion registering a growth of 18.81% that imports valued at $ 61.87 billion in April-January 2004-05.

( www.financialexpress.com)