April exports rise 20% for eighth straight month at $24.6 bn

Imports jump 49.07% to $37.88 bn; trade deficit widens for second straight month at $13.2 bn

Exports in April grew at 19.4 per cent, resulting in growth for eight consecutive months, but the trade difference was the highest in 29 months because of a 49.2 per cent jump in imports.

The increase in imports was because of rising commodity prices and inbound shipments of gold, but it was also an indication of industrial recovery. 

Exports had, however, grown higher at 27.6 per cent in March, which was the steepest in a little over five years.

Outbound trade in April, the first month of the current financial year, was $24.6 billion, compared to $20.6 billion in the