New Delhi: India's December merchandise exports rose to $37.81 billion, higher by 38.91 per cent on a year-on-year basis, official data showed on Saturday. Exports during December 2020 stood at $27.22 billion.

The data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that in comparison to December 2019, last month's exports rose by 39.47 percent.

"Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewelry exports in December 2021 were $28.92 billion, registering a positive growth of 29.67 percent over non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports of $22.30 billion in December 2020," the ministry said. In comparison to December 2019, non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports

in December 2021 registered a positive growth of 37.31 percent. Similarly, India's merchandise imports in December 2021 increased by 38.55 per cent over last year to $59.48 billion from $42.93 billion.

The ministry data showed that last month's exports rose by 50.24 per cent in comparison to December 2019,

"Non-petroleum, non-gems, and jewellery, (gold, silver and precious metals) imports were $35.47 billion in December 2021 with a positive growth of 34.28 per cent over nonpetroleum, non-gems and jewellery imports of $26.41 billion in December 2020 and a pos itive growth of 47,32 per cent over non-petroleum, non-gems and jewellery imports of $24.07 billion in December 2019."

Consequently, the trade deficit widened by 37.92 per cent on a year-on-year basis to $21.68 billion in December 2021 from $15.72 billion in the like period of 2020. It had widened to $12.49 billion in December 2019.

ICRA's Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said: "While the merchandise trade deficit in December 2021 pulled back from the levels seen in September 2021 and November 2021, benefitting from high exports ahead of the Christmas season, non-oil non-gold imports climbed very sharply.

"The surge in non-oil non-precious imports in December 2021 was led by electronic goods, fertilizers, chemicals, and coal, all of which reported year on year increase of more than $1 billion. While the improvement in exports was fairly broad-based, nearly 40 percent of the year on year increase in non-oil exports was on account of engineering goods."

Source- IANS