Exports up 15.46% to $37.3 bn in May; trade deficit widens to $23.33 bn

India's merchandise exports rose by 15.46 per cent to USD 37.29 billion in May on account of healthy performance by sectors like petroleum products, electronic goods and chemicals, even as the trade deficit widened to USD 23.33 billion during the month, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.

Imports during the month too grew by 56.14 per cent to USD 60.62 billion.

The trade deficit in May 2021 stood at USD 6.53 billion.


"India's merchandise export in April - May 2022-23 was USD 77.08 billion with an increase of 22.26 per cent over USD 63.05 billion in April -May 2021-22," it said.

Petroleum and crude oil imports during May 2022 surged by 91.6 per cent to USD 18.14 billion.

Coal, coke and briquettes imports jumped to USD 5.33 billion, as against USD 2 billion in May 2021.

Gold imports increased to USD 5.82 billion during the month under review, from USD 677 million in May 2021.

Cumulative imports in April-May 2022-23 rose by 42.35 per cent to USD 120.81 billion.

Trade deficit during the first two months of this fiscal widened to USD 43.73 billion as against USD 21.82 billion earlier.

Engineering goods exports in May increased by 7.84 per cent to USD 9.3 billion, while petroleum products exports grew by 52.71 per cent to USD 8.11 billion.

Gems and jewellery exports stood at USD 3.1 billion in May against USD 2.96 billion in the same month last year.

Exports of chemicals rose by 12 per cent to USD 2.5 billion in May.

Similarly, shipments of pharma and ready-made garments of all textiles grew by 5.78 per cent and 23 per cent to USD 1.98 billion and USD 1.36 billion respectively during the month under review.