'India likely to meet export target of $325 bn'

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SME Times News Bureau | 16 Dec, 2013
Industry bodies have exuded confidence that country's export target of USD 325 billion for financial year 2013-14 would be met even as growth in overseas shipments slowed to a five-month low in November, reports media.

"Export target for the current fiscal will be achieved easily and November figures may be seen as an aberration. Trade deficit will be within USD 140 to USD 150 billion in the current fiscal as against USD 190 billion recorded in 2012-13, helping to keep CAD (current account deficit) between USD 50 to USD 60 billion," said Rafeeque Ahmed, President, Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation (FIEO).

Exports increased 5.86 percent to USD 24.6 billion in November, the slowest pace in five months, as shipments of petroleum goods and rough diamonds declined. Imports stood at USD 33.83 billion last month, the lowest level since March 2011.

Imports last month fell 16.3 percent as inward shipments of gold and silver dropped sharply, helping to narrow the trade deficit to USD 9.21 billion, the second-lowest in this financial year. The gap in November 2012 was USD 17.2 billion, the report said.

"The continued rise in exports for the fifth month in a row is noteworthy. The first eight months of this fiscal have witnessed a nearly 23 percent decline in the cumulative trade deficit, which will considerably ease the pressure on the current account deficit and make the rupee more stable," Ficci president Naina Lal Kidwai said.

In April-November, exports grew 6.27 percent to USD 204 billion while imports stood at USD 304 billion.

"While a significant fall in trade deficit is a good development...it is largely a result of a steep import compression rather than a smart rise in exports," said Anupam Shah, chairman of engineering exporters body EEPC India.

"Falling imports are a welcome sign at this juncture. However, fall in the imports of capital goods owing to less investment activity and rising imports of consumer goods does not augur well," ASSOCHAM Secretary General, D S Rawat said.

"The evolving trend strongly indicates that India's trade balance in 2013-14 would improve. While exports may touch USD 325 billion, imports are expected to fall to USD 450 billion.

Gold and silver imports in November dipped by more than 80 percent from a year earlier to USD 1.05 billion. Oil imports dropped 1.1 percent to USD 12.96 billion.

"Compression of imports is a factor...However, we will be able to meet export target of USD 325 billion," said Sanjay Budhia, chairman of the CII Committee on Exports and Imports.

"The government should come out with a scheme to expand new products basket, duty drawback rates should be restored. Besides, the government should take a holistic view and make special economic zones viable," he added.