January trade deficit at 11-month low of $8.3 billion

Exports contracted by 11.2%, while imports declined by 11.4%

Country's exports contracted by 11.19% to $23.88 billion in January this year compared to that in the same month in 2014, with main sectors such as cotton yarn, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and gems and jewellery performing poorly.

Exports in January 2014 stood at $26.89 billion.

Imports declined by 11.39% to $32.2 billion during the month under review, leaving a trade deficit of $8.32 billion, according to the data released by the Commerce Ministry.

The trade gap in January last year was $9.45 billion.

Gold imports in January this year grew by 8.13% to $1.55 billion.

Outbound shipments of cotton yarn, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and gems and jewellery contracted by 9.15%, 10.52%, 0.16% and 3.73%, respectively in January this year.

Exports of tea, coffee, rice, tobacco and spices also recorded a negative growth in the month under review.

For April-January period of the current fiscal, exports grew by 2.44% to $265.03 billion.

Imports were up by 2.17% to $383.41 billion in the same period, leaving a trade deficit of $118.37 billion during the period.