Besides, reflecting slowdown in the domestic economy, imports too dipped by 5.08 per cent to USD 37.95 billion, from USD 40 billion in August 2011, resulting in a trade deficit of USD 15.7 billion for the month.
The decline in the country's shipments comes amid India's economic growth slipping to 5.5 per cent in the first quarter of this fiscal and subdued industrial output.
However, the decline in exports in August is lower than that of the previous month, when the exports contracted by 15 per cent.
Commerce Secretary S R Rao had recently said the incentives announced in the foreign trade policy was the reason for the reduced decline. The government had extended 2 per cent interest subsidy to exports in the policy besides other benefits.
In April-August, too, the shipment dipped by about six per cent to USD 120 billion from USD 127.5 billion in the same period last year.
During the first five months of the fiscal, imports contracted by 6.2 per cent to USD 191.1 billion. Trade deficit during the period stood at USD 71.1 billion.
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India's apex exporters body FIEO said given the global scenario, meeting the exports target of USD 360 billion for this fiscal looks difficult.
"Contraction in global demand and deceleration in manufacturing sector are primary reasons for the decline in exports. However, exports may take off by October," Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President M Rafeeque Ahmed said. (MORE)