India: Merchandise exports increase in March
Merchandise exports shot up 17.2% in annual terms in March, on the heels of February’s 23.8% upturn. The figure marked the slowest expansion since February 2021. Meanwhile, merchandise imports climbed 22.1% over the same month last year in March (February: +36.8% yoy), marking the weakest result since February 2021.
As a result, the merchandise trade balance improved from the previous month, recording a USD 18.7 billion deficit in March (February 2022: USD 20.9 billion deficit; March 2021: USD 13.9 billion deficit). Lastly, the trend pointed down, with the 12-month trailing merchandise trade balance recording a USD 199.4 billion deficit in March, compared to the USD 194.7 billion deficit in February.