India’s exports expand 24% in May, trade deficit widens sharply

India’s total exports, including goods and services, in May grew 24% over a year ago to $62.21 billion, but trade deficit also rose sharply to $15.44 billion in the month compared to a $1.38 billion trade surplus in the same month last year on the back of a 59% spike in imports to $77.65 billion, according to official data.According to experts, the high trade deficit in May was on account of higher merchandise imports in terms of value due to global supply chain disruptions, inflation and domestic manufacturers building inventories to secure themselves from future supply shocks.Provisional data released by the commerce ministry on Wednesday showed unprecedented growth in imports of key inputs such as energy and precious metals, necessary for domestic manufacturing and exports. Gold import in May saw 789% year-on-year growth to $6 billion, coal (173% to $5.42 billion), petroleum (103% to $19.2 billion), and silver (2,800% to $446 million).Higher services exports at $45.87 billion in May compared to $28.48 billion imports helped bring down the overall trade deficit, which also signified rapid recovery in services segment that was badly hit by Covid-19 pandemic.May saw merchandise exports of $38.94 billion (20.55% y-o-y growth) and imports of $63.22 billion (62.83% y-o-y jump), according to the data. The highest growth in exports in the month was for petroleum products ( $8.55 billion, a 60.87% jump over $5.31 billion in the same period last year) because many domestic refiners are exporting automobile fuels overseas for better price realisation. There was also growth in electronic goods, leather products, coffee, cereal preparations, and oil meals.India’s overall exports (merchandise and services combined) in April-May are estimated to be $124.59 billion, a growth of 25.90% over the same period last year, the commerce ministry said in a statement. The data is provisional because services trade figures are extrapolations .“The data for May 2022 is an estimation, which will be revised based on RBI’s subsequent release,” the ministry said in a statement.The merchandise exports in the first two months (April-May) of 2022-23 were $78.72 billion as compared to $63.05 billion during the same period last year , a 24.86% growth. The estimated value of services export for April-May 2022 was $45.87 billion, g a growth of 27.71% vis-a-vis $35.92 billion in April-May 2021, it added.Total imports (merchandise and services combined) in May were estimated to be $77.65 billion, a growth of 59.19% over the same period last year. Overall imports in the first two months of current financial year (April-May) were estimated at $151.89 billion, a growth of 45.44% over the same period last year, the ministry said in its statement.Saon Ray, professor at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), a think-tank, said: “The trade deficit is on account of merchandise trade and not services… However, we must unpack what we are importing and exporting to shed some light on the trade deficit. The data shows an improvement is exports of services, which is a good sign since services trade was badly hit in the aftermath of the pandemic.”Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) president A Sakthivel said the “highest-ever exports” in May shows “the continuous resilience of the exports sector” amidst rising global uncertainties.India’s merchandise exports crossed $421.8 billion for the first time ever in 2021-22 and services exports also surged an all-time high at $254.4 billion in the fiscal year.“Labour-intensive sectors also contributed to the exports basket, which itself is a good sign, further helping job creation in the country,” Sakthivel added, expressing confidence that the benefits of recently signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with Australia and the UAE, and the productivity-linked incentive (PLI) scheme will further help India’s exports.He said rising imports of gold may lead to impressive gems and jewellery exports in the next 1-2 months.