Customs-related problems feature prominently among the reasons cited for the slowdown aside from the generally sluggish world trade.
Sources in the Agriculture & Processed Exports Development Authority (Apeda) said agricultural export growth was way behind target. The growth was between 11 and 14 per cent against the target of 20 per cent.
One product category doing well is oilmeals, which has shown a 76 per cent increase in rupee terms in April-July over the corresponding period in 1995-96.
Marine export growth slowed down in April-September 1996-97 to 5.6 per cent in rupee terms. The rise in volume also slowed down to 7.96 per cent in 1996-97.
The total quantity exported increased from 101923.5 million tonnes in 1995-96 to 110,033.2 million tonnes in 1996-97. The rise in value terms was from Rs 1431.9 crore in 1995-96 to Rs 1,513.3 crore in 1996-97.
Soon after he took over, Ramaiah met the export promotion councils (EPCs) and commodity boards on July 17 to set specific export targets on various commodities and products.
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For the gems and jewellery sector, for instance, the export target was set at around 15-16 per cent, following an 18 per cent target export growth in 1995-96.
Total exports of the sector in 1995-96 were worth $5,433 million, officials said.
For engineering exports, the target for 1996-97 has been set at 20 per cent. Total exports in 1995-96 were worth $ 3.76 billion, up 18 per cent from 1994-95.
Engineering exports have grown by just 12 per cent in dollar terms in April-July 1996-97 over the same period in 1995-96.