<p class="title">India's exports dipped after a gap of four months in March but finished 2017-18 with a healthy rise of 9.78% to $302.84 billion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 0.66% decline during March was mainly on account of contraction in shipments of key sectors such as petroleum and gems and jewellery.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The last time exports fell was in October 2017, when they had declined by 1.12%.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Imports during the month under review rose by 7.15% to $42.8 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $13.69 billion, according to data released by the Commerce Ministry on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During 2017-18, imports increased by 19.59% to $459.67 billion and the trade deficit widened to $156.83 billion during the fiscal as compared to $108.5 billion in 2016-17.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Merchandise exports crossed the $300-billion mark in 2017-18 after a gap of two financial years. The figure stood at $310.30 in 2014-15.</p>
<p class="title">India's exports dipped after a gap of four months in March but finished 2017-18 with a healthy rise of 9.78% to $302.84 billion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 0.66% decline during March was mainly on account of contraction in shipments of key sectors such as petroleum and gems and jewellery.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The last time exports fell was in October 2017, when they had declined by 1.12%.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Imports during the month under review rose by 7.15% to $42.8 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $13.69 billion, according to data released by the Commerce Ministry on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During 2017-18, imports increased by 19.59% to $459.67 billion and the trade deficit widened to $156.83 billion during the fiscal as compared to $108.5 billion in 2016-17.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Merchandise exports crossed the $300-billion mark in 2017-18 after a gap of two financial years. The figure stood at $310.30 in 2014-15.</p>