India’s merchandise exports jumped 21.35 per cent to $33.44 billion in September on a year-on-year basis, mainly due to better performance by key sectors like engineering goods and petroleum products, according to preliminary data released by the government on Friday.

In September, merchandise imports stood at $56.38 billion, an increase of 84.75 per cent compared to the year-ago period. The same was at more than $30.52 billion in the same period a year ago. It is also up 49.58 per cent over September 2019 when it had totalled $37.69 billion.

The trade deficit in September was at $22.94 billion as gold imports jumped nearly 750 per cent to $5.11 billion.

As per the preliminary data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the trade deficit, which is the gap between imports and exports, works out to be $78.81 billion during April-September period.

“India’s merchandise exports in September 2021 were $33.44 billion, an increase of 21.35 per cent over $27.56 billion in September 2020 and an increase of 28.51 per cent over $26.02 billion in September 2019,” it said.

Exports of engineering goods stood at $9.42 billion, up 36.7 per cent over September 2020. The outward shipments of petroleum is estimated at $4.91 billion in September 2021, an increase of 39.32 per cent over the year-ago month.

Outward shipments of ‘gems and jewellery’ were 19.71 per cent higher at $3.23 billon. However, exports of ‘drugs and pharmaceuticals’ registered a decline of 8.47 per cent.