Eports grew marginally by 0.34 per cent to $ 27.93 billion in December 2018 on account of negative growth in sectors such as engineering and gems & jewellery, according to a commerce ministry data.

Imports, however, dipped by 2.44 per cent to $ 41 billion during the last month, narrowing the trade deficit to $ 13 billion. The trade deficit stood at $ 14.2 billion in December 2017. Gold imports declined by 24.33 per cent to $ 2.56 billion in December last year as against $ 3.39 billion in the same month of 2017.

During April-December this fiscal, exports grew by 10.18 per cent to $ 245.44 billion. Imports rose by 12.61 per cent to $ 386.65 billion. The trade deficit widened to $ 141.2 billion during the nine months of the current fiscal from $ 120.57 billion in April-December 2017-18. Oil imports in December 2018 rose by 3.16 per cent to $10.67 billion.

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