Exports Rise 24 Per Cent To $38 Billion In April, Trade Deficit Widens To $20 Billion

Imports during the month under review grew 26.55 per cent to $58.26 billion

New Delhi: The commerce ministry of Tuesday said that exports rose by 24.22 per cent to $38.19 billion in April on account of healthy performance by sectors such as petroleum products, electronic goods, and chemicals, according to a report by the PTI.

Imports during the month under review grew 26.55 per cent to $58.26 billion. The trade deficit in April 2022 widened to $20.07 billion as against $15.29 billion in the year-ago period, it said.

Value of non-petroleum exports in April 2022 was $30.46 billion, logging a rise of 12.32 per cent over non-petroleum exports of $27.12 billion in April 2021.

According to data released by the ministry, non-petroleum and non-gems as well as jewellery exports in April 2022 stood at $27.16 billion, recording a 14.3 per cent growth over $23.74 billion exports recorded in April 2021.

Huge growth was seen in export of other items also during April 2022, like petroleum products (at 113.21 per cent), electronic goods (64.04 per cent) and chemicals (26.71 per cent).

Meanwhile, the country’s coal production surged by 28 per cent to 66.1 million tonnes in April amid high demand from thermal power plants as several parts of the country grappled with power shortage.

The overall coal production was at 51.6 million tonnes (MT) in April 2021.

"During the month of April, 2022 India’s total coal production stood at 661.54 lakh tons (66.1 MT)," the coal ministry said in a statement.

While Coal India (CIL) and its subsidiaries produced 53.4 MT of coal, production by Singareni Colleries Company (SCCL) stood at 5.3 MT and by captive mines at 7.3 MT during the last month.