New Delhi: The country's merchandise exports fell 9.3 percent to $34.71 billion in August. This is the biggest fall in exports in 13 months. In the same month a year ago, it was $38.28 billion. Imports in August rose 3.3 percent to $64.36 billion, which was $62.3 billion in the same month a year ago. Talking about the difference between imports and exports, i.e. trade deficit, it increased to $29.65 billion. This is the highest in 10 months.

The country's merchandise exports declined by 1.5 percent in July. During April to August of the current financial year, exports grew by 1.14 percent to $ 178.68 billion while imports grew by seven percent to $ 295.32 billion. Electronic goods, pharma and engineering exports grew by 7.85 percent, 4.67 percent and 4.36 percent respectively in August. Exports of services stood at $ 30.69 billion in August. While imports stood at $ 15.70 billion.

In the same period last year, exports were $ 28.71 billion and imports were $ 15.09 billion. India's total exports (including goods and services) in August were $ 65.4 billion. It registered a decline of 2.4 percent on an annual basis. In the same period last year, this figure was $ 67 billion. India's total exports (including goods and services) in July were $ 62.42 billion.

Talking about the first five months of the current financial year, India's total exports have reached the level of $ 328.86 billion, which is 5.35 percent more than the same period last year. The government hopes that it will achieve the export target of $ 800 billion during the entire financial year. In the last financial year, India had a record export of $ 778 billion.