NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Negative export growth coupled with higher imports widened India's trade deficit by a whopping $ 4.99 billion in the first half of this fiscal year, double that of the $ 2.5 billion registered in April-Sept 1997.The latest monthly trade data released today showed that exports continued its down slide registering a negative 3.28 per cent growth, while imports soared by 10.06 per cent in dollars terms in the first half of this fiscal year. The performance was even worse in September as exports recorded a negative 4.89 growth in dollar terms and imports an alarming 20.37 per cent.In value terms, exports during April-September 1998 was estimated at $ 16.27 billion as against $ 16.83 billion in corresponding period last year. Exports in September was $ 2.76 billion as against $ 2.87 billion in the same month in 1997. Imports in April-Sept are estimated at $ 21.3 billion compared to 19.3 billion dollars registered in the same period last year.In rupee terms, however, exports grew by 12.26per cent in the first half while in September it posted 11.01 per cent respectively. Though oil imports in first half declined considerably by 25.63 per cent at 2.9 billion dollars.
