During April-August, the shipment dipped by about six per cent to USD 120 billion from USD 127.6 billion in the same period last year, Commerce Secretary S R Rao told reporters here.
Imports during the month, too, slipped by 5.08 per cent to USD 38 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 15.7 billion.
During the first five months of the current fiscal, imports contracted by 6.2 per cent to USD 191.1 billion. Trade deficit during the period under review stood at USD 71.1 billion.
"Trade gap is well under control," Rao said.