India's exports up 1.6 pc at USD 24.16 bn in Apr

Country's merchandise exports grew by 1.6 per cent to USD 24.16 billion in April this year, whereas imports increased by 10.9 per cent.
Imports during the reported month stood at USD 41.95 billion.
Exports in April 2012 stood at USD 23.7 billion, while imports were at USD 37.8 billion.
Due to high imports, the trade deficit rose to USD 17.8 billion, Commerce Secretary S R Rao told reporters here today.
Rao attributed the widening of trade deficit in the first month of the current fiscal to high gold imports.
Gold and silver imports during April, 2013 jumped by 138 per cent to USD 7.5 billion against USD 3.1 billion in the year-ago period.