Trade deficit at 13-mth high

Silver imports grew 139 per cent to $1.3 billion. Fertiliser shipments rose 202 per cent to $2.36 billion, while electronics imports grew 15 per cent to $9.82 billion during the month.

- 

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that despite a surge in gold imports in September, interms of volume, cumulative imports (April-September) were over 87 per centlowerascompared tothe same period last year. While the commerce departmentis closely assessing the reasons behind the surge, a jump in gold imports could be due tothe festival season.