In the first three quarters of the current financial year, total value of exports stood at $214.09 billion, 5.5 percent down from $226.55 billion recorded during the same period of the previous year.
Imports increased by 6.26 percent to $42.54 billion in December, leaving a monthly trade deficit of $17.67 billion, according to data released by the ministry of commerce and industry here.
Total trade deficit for April-December period has widened to $147.17 billion. During the corresponding period of 2011-12, trade deficit was $137.31 billion.
Widening trade deficit has resulted in the record jump in the country's current account deficit. India's current account deficit rose to the all-time high of 5.4 percent of the GDP in July-September quarter, according to the Reserve Bank of India data.
