Exports up 24% during Apr-Nov

India's exports touched $46.3 billion during April-November, having risen by 24 per cent, as against $37.4 billion during the corresponding period last year.

Higher oil prices pushed up India's import bill by 34 per cent to $64.26 billion, compared to $47.79 billion during the corresponding period last year.

Of the total imports, petroleum and petroleum products alone accounted for $20 billion, according to an official release.

Oil imports were valued at $19.94 billion, 55.79 per cent over the figure of the corresponding period last year.

The higher imports widened the trade deficit to $17.87 billion during the eight month-period, up from $10.38 billion during April-November, 2003.

Exports during November, 2004, were valued at $6.09 billion, which was 25.91 per cent higher than the $4.84 billion during the same month last year.

Non-oil imports during April-November, 2004-05, were estimated at $44.32 billion, 26.67 per cent higher than the level of such imports in the eight-month period last year.

The government has set an export target of $75 billion for this fiscal and $88 billion for 2005-06.