In 2023-24, India recorded trade deficits with nine of its top ten partners, including increased deficits with China, Russia, Korea, and Hong Kong. The overall trade deficit narrowed to USD 238.3 billion, but experts warn that a rising deficit pressures the currency and may indicate economic instability.

The merchandise trade deficit at USD 71.6 billion was marginally higher than USD 71.3 billion during the third quarter of 2022-23. Services exports grew by 5.2 per cent on a year-on-year basis on the back of rising exports of software, business and travel

Despite the challenges posed by the geopolitical crisis in the Red Sea region, India's overall trade deficit improved by 37.80% from April-February 2022-23 to April-February 2023-24, falling to $72.24 billion. The merchandise trade deficit decreased by 8.43% to $225.20 billion during the same period.

"I am happy to share with you that we close the current year in March at the same level as last year. We have a little bit of an adjustment between goods and services, but collectively we will be at the same level as last year, which will be a very, very significant achievement given that most developing countries and less developed countries are seeing a fall in their international trade," said Goyal.