UPDATED: March 15, 2021 22:24 IST
In April-February, merchandise exports contracted 12.23 per cent while merchandise imports fell 23.1 per cent (Picture Credits: Reuters)
India s exports grew marginally by 0.67 per cent to USD 27.93 billion in February while imports rose by 6.96 per cent to USD 40.54 billion in the month, according to official data released on Monday.
The trade deficit widened to USD 12.62 billion in February compared to USD 10.16 billion in the year-ago period, the data showed.
Exports during April-February 2020-21 period contracted by 12.23 per cent to USD 256.18 billion compared to USD 291.87 billion in the year-ago period. Imports during April-February period dipped 23.11 per cent to USD 340.8 billion.
In December 2020, oil imports declined by 10.37 per cent to $ 9.61 billion
Contracting for the third straight month, India s exports slipped marginally by 0.8 per cent to $ 26.89 billion in December 2020, due to decline in sectors like petroleum, leather, and marine products, as per the government data. The trade deficit in December widened to $15.71 billion, as imports grew by 7.6 per cent to $ 42.6 billion, according to the preliminary data released by the commerce ministry on Saturday. Exports in December 2019 were $ 27.11 billion, while imports stood at $ 39.5 billion. In November 2020, exports were down by 8.74 per cent. In April-December 2020-21, the country s merchandise exports contracted by 15.8 per cent to $ 200.55 billion, as compared to $ 238.27 billion in the same period last fiscal.
Media release: Vinyl and cassette sales surge as streamers collect the music they love in lockdown
NEW figures released by record labels’ association, the BPI, using Official Charts Company data will show that alongside continued growth in streaming, which now accounts for around 80 per cent of UK music consumption, sales of vinyl LPs and audio cassettes surged ahead in 2020.
Fans turned to their favourite music in ever greater numbers to escape the lockdown blues, the figures will show.
There has never been so much choice in terms of how to discover, access and enjoy music. Most fans turn to the immediacy of streaming for much of their daily listening, but increasingly they complement this by collecting much-loved albums on vinyl, CD, download and even on cassette.