While machinery import growth-rate declined by 22.5 per cent, that of project goods fell by 45.97 per cent. During this period, imports of certain key inputs required by industry have also shown a steep decline. These include non-ferrous metals, iron and steel items, metalliferrous ores and scrap and crude rubber.

As a result, total imports have grown by a mere 4.46 per cent from $9.9 billion to $10.3 billion, reveals a commodity-wise analysis of imports compiled by the Union commerce ministry.

The data show that imports of project goods declined from $510.95 million to $376.06 million (45.97 per cent), of transport equipment from $192.53 million to $130.15 million (32.40 per cent), of machine tools from $103.92 million to $66.6 million(35.89 per cent) and of machinery other than electrical from $732.46 million to $594.70 million (18.81 per cent).

In the case of industrial raw materials, imports of non-ferrous metals fell by 25.39 per cent, from $161.42 million to $120.44 million, of iron and steel by 11.39 per cent from $248.12 million to $219.87 million, of metalliferrous ores and metal scrap by 14.94 per cent from $160.40 million to $136.44 million.

During April-June 1999, exports registered a growth of 6.65 per cent over the previous corresponding period. In value terms, exports were up from $7.4 billion to $7.9 billion in this period.

Exports of traditional items such as tea and coffee dropped, the former from $117.67 million to $76.91 million (34.64 per cent) and the latter from $185.99 million to $122.50 million ($ 34.13 per cent).

Among agricultural products, exports of rice fell by 42.47 per cent from $274.08 million to $163.44 million.

In the area of non-traditional items, exports of marine products declined from$258.91 million to $222.95 million (13.89 per cent), of iron ore from $83.31 million to $53.15 million, of processed minerals from $61.54 million to $54.39 million, of leather and manufactures from $214.83 million to $190.41 million.

The engineering sector, a thrust area of exports, also fared badly. Exports of primary iron and steel items fell from $143.29 million to $107.39 million, of iron and steel bars, rods etc from $21.84 million to $14.82 million and of ferro alloys from $23.84 million to $14.82 million.

The trade deficit, however, came down from $2.42 billion in April-June 1998 to $2.37 billion in April-June 1999.