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Business News/ Economy / Trade deficit at record $31 bn, exports slide after 19 months
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Trade deficit at record $31 bn, exports slide after 19 months

July merchandise exports declined by 0.76% from a year ago to $37.24 billion, while imports grew 44% to $66.26 billion during the month because of high commodity prices and a weak rupee

While imports are expected to moderate on the back of easing commodity prices, a recession in the US and European markets may hurt exports, economists said  (Photo: Mint)Premium
While imports are expected to moderate on the back of easing commodity prices, a recession in the US and European markets may hurt exports, economists said  (Photo: Mint)

BENGALURU/NEW DELHI : India’s trade deficit swelled to a record $31.02 billion in July, as imports of goods surged despite curbs and merchandise exports contracted for the first time in 20 months.

July merchandise exports declined by 0.76% from a year ago to $37.24 billion, while imports grew 44% to $66.26 billion during the month because of high commodity prices and a weak rupee, data released by the ministry of commerce and industry showed on Tuesday. As a result, the trade deficit—the gap between exports and imports—tripled from the $10.63 billion reported in July last year.

Widening worries
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Widening worries

The widening deficit is likely to exert pressure on rupee, which has been appreciating against the dollar in the past few days after touching a lifetime low of 80.16 two weeks ago. However, cooling commodity and energy prices on fears of a recession may temper any sharp depreciation of the rupee.

While imports are expected to moderate on the back of easing commodity prices, a recession in the US and European markets may hurt exports, economists said.

However, in a press briefing on Tuesday, commerce secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam said India’s exports are on course to touch $470-480 billion in the current fiscal and may reach $500 billion with a further push.

Key export sectors, including engineering, gems and jewellery, petroleum, pharma, ready-made garments, and cotton yarn, recorded a decline in July because of dampening demand in western markets. Other factors that may affect exports include India’s restrictions on selling wheat, steel, iron and petroleum products overseas.

Gold imports declined by 44% to $2.37 billion in July and were also lower than the $2.74 billion in June
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Gold imports declined by 44% to $2.37 billion in July and were also lower than the $2.74 billion in June

Overall exports reported a 12% sequential decline in July from $40.13 billion in June.

“Exports are down because the government made a conscious decision to constrain exports in some segments," Subrahmanyam said, adding that overseas companies restricted taking deliveries in anticipation of a drop in demand. “In textiles, some buyers have booked orders but not taken deliveries as they want to exhaust stocks," he said.

Economists expect the current account deficit to double to over 3% of GDP in FY23 from 1.2% last year.

“The current account deficit is likely to have crossed $30 billion in the June quarter, equivalent to 80% of the full-year figure for FY22. Lower commodity prices should temper the trade deficit going ahead, although the strength of merchandise and services exports in the face of the global slowdown fears remains crucial," said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at rating company ICRA Ltd.

Subrahmanyam added that the free trade agreements with the UAE and Australia would contribute significantly to India’s export growth.

The trade data pertains to the month when the government hiked import duty on gold to rein in a widening current account deficit and arrest the rupee’s record decline against the dollar. It also introduced export tariffs on petroleum products and windfall taxes on crude production to improve domestic supplies, cut the need for imports, and lower the import bill. These are revised every fortnight based on global prices.

Brent crude price has started easing and fell below $100 on Tuesday, down from $111 per barrel at the beginning of the month. Petroleum imports surged 70% in value terms in July to $21.1 billion from a year earlier. Coal imports nearly tripled to $5.17 billion but were lower than the $6.76 billion reported in June.

Gold imports declined by 44% to $2.37 billion in July and were also lower than the $2.74 billion in June. The Centre hiked the import duty on gold from 10.75% to 15% amid a spike in yellow metal imports, with shipments exceeding 100 tonnes during these months.

The non-oil, non- gems and jewellery imports, which signify industrial activity in the economy, stood at $38.44 billion in July, growing 43% from a year earlier.

As for exports, engineering goods declined by 2.54% in July to $9.2 billion. Drugs and pharmaceuticals exports declined by 1.37% during the month to $2.11 billion. Gems and jewellery and ready-made garments exports also reported a 5.21% and 0.63% contraction, respectively. Petroleum products exports fell 7.7% during the month due to export restrictions.

Subrahmanyam said the decline in exports to Russia and Sri Lanka also contributed to the exports slowdown and said trade settlement in rupees would help increase exports to Russia. “Exports to Russia collapsed by half, and Sri Lanka exports vanished. Rupee trade with Russia to increase exports of tea, coffee, pharma, chemicals, textile, leather, and telecom products. About $8-9 billion in additional trade is expected in the next two months with Russia and Sri Lanka," he said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dilasha Seth
" Dilasha Seth is a journalist reporting on macroeconomic policy for the last 11 years. She writes extensively on issues including international trade, macroeconomic data, fiscal policy, and taxation. At Mint, she reports on trade deals that India is signing besides key policy decisions of the Ministry of Finance. She closely tracked and covered the transition to the goods and services tax (GST) regime in 2017 and also writes on direct tax-related issues. In the past, she has worked with Business Standard and The Economic Times. She is based in Bangalore."
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Published: 03 Aug 2022, 12:16 AM IST
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