Overview
- PBS data, released Tuesday, showed the April merchandise trade deficit reached $4.07 billion, the largest in 46 months.
- The gap widened about 44% from March after imports jumped more than 28% month on month while exports rose roughly 10%.
- For July to April, the deficit totaled about $32 billion with imports near $57.19 billion up 7% and exports around $25.21 billion down just over 6%.
- Services trade offered partial relief as the July–March services deficit narrowed to $2.15 billion and March was near balance at a $22.9 million shortfall.
- Analysts link the April spike to higher commodity prices and Middle East shipping strains that lifted oil, freight and insurance costs, while business groups warn of rupee and reserve pressure and call for export‑led fixes and lower energy tariffs.