Exports dip for the 11 straight months

New Delhi: India's exports slid for the 11th straight month in August by 19.7 per cent to USD 14.3 billion owing to the continuing slump in global demand.

In August 2008, the exports were USD 17.8 billion.

In April-August this fiscal, the overseas shipment contracted by 31.3 per cent to USD 63.9 billion from USD 93.1 billion in the same period last year.

For the first five month of 2009-10, three sectors -- rice, tobacco and fruits and vegetables -- have shown positive growth, Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said.

Only in August, segments like rice, tobacco, fruits and vegetable, marine products, iron ore, man-made yarn and fabrics, some minerals, like coal, and ready made garments have shown positive growth, Khullar told reporters.

"Sectors which continue to be in deep trouble are leather, gems and jewellery, drugs and pharmaceuticals both in monthly and cumulatively for the last five months," he said.

The exports of gems and jewellery in August dipped to USD 2.2 billion from USD 2.9 billion in last year. In April-August this fiscal, the gems and jewellery exports contracted to USD 9.7 billion from USD 14.6 billion in April-August last fiscal.

Leather exports in the month under review declined to USD 0.28 billion from USD 0.35 billion in the same month last year.ngineering goods exports was dropped to USD 2.6 billion from USD 3.8 billion.

In April-August this fiscal engineering goods shipment shrank to USD 13.1 billion from USD 19.8 billion, Khullar said.