India's merchandise exports increased by 23 per cent to $44.4 billion in September, compared to $36.08 billion a year ago, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.
This has narrowed the trade deficit to $30.21 billion, government data released on Thursday said. India's overall exports, including merchandise and services, grew 10.99 per cent to an estimated $80.75 billion from $72.76 billion a year ago.
The country's imports also rose by 8 per cent to $74.61 billion in September.
Addressing a press briefing, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said merchandise shipments were driving the strong export growth.
"If you look at merchandise exports in September, they are at $44.40 billion, which is 23.04 per cent higher than last September," he said.
The growth was supported by higher shipments of electronic goods, petroleum products, engineering goods, chemicals and agricultural products.
Agrawal also highlighted that export growth accelerated during the second quarter of the current financial year.
"The second quarter has outperformed the first quarter of this transition year, and the second quarter's overall export growth has been 15.84 per cent. In the first quarter, overall export growth was 11.84 per cent," he said.
(With inputs from PTI & ANI)
