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India's Trade Deficit Surges To A Record In September As Imports Rebound

India's trade deficit surged in September as imports saw a sharp rebound while exports remained strong.

<div class="paragraphs"><p>Containers and cranes at the Port of Chennai in Chennai, India, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021.  Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg</p></div>
Containers and cranes at the Port of Chennai in Chennai, India, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg

India trade deficit surged in September as imports saw a sharp rebound while exports remained strong.

The trade deficit in September stood at $22.59 billion, compared to $13.9 billion in August. According to ICRA, the monthly deficit in September is at an all-time high.

  • Imports soared to $56.4 billion, up 19.7% over the previous month. On an annual basis, exports rose by 22.63%.

  • Exports rose to $33.8 billion, up 1.5% over August. On an annual basis, they jumped 84.8%.

  • Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports were at $25.34 billion, 0.6% higher than in August, and 18.8% higher than a year earlier.

  • Non-oil, non-gold imports were at $33.8 billion, 18% higher than the preceding month and 40.5% higher than a year earlier.

Key Export Items

  • Petroleum products rose 47.59% y-o-y to $5.2 billion.

  • Gems & jewellery jumped 19.7% to $3.2 billion.

  • Readymade garments increased 9.2% to $1.3 billion.

  • Drugs and pharmaceuticals down 8.5% at $2.1 billion.

  • Engineering goods rose 3.7% to $9.4 billion.

  • Electronic goods increased 26.3% to $1.2 billion.

Key Import Items

  • Gold saw a sharp surge in imports, rising 750.6% year-to-year to $5.1 billion in September.

  • Coal, coke and briquettes rose 82.9% to $2.2 billion.

  • Petroleum, crude and and products up 199.3% at $17.4 billion.

  • Machinery, electrical & non-electrical contracted 42% to $3.2 billion.

  • Electronic goods rose 15.7% to $5.3 billion.

  • Iron and steel up 52.9% to $1.3 billion.

  • Organic and inorganic chemicals rose 56.5% to $2.5 billion.