Besides Overall Growth of Exports, MSME Sector Still a Concern: FIEO

Double-digit exports growth for the month of August is encouraging, but low exports from several MSME sectors still remains a concern, viewed exporters' body FIEO.

Reacting to official merchandise export figures for August, FIEO President Ganesh Kumar Gupta said that consecutively for the fourth month in a row exports have shown a higher double-digit growth of 19.21 percent.

The rate of growth during the month has shown an upward trend as compared to a previous month with an increase of about 5 percent, he added.

However, the FIEO chief pointed out that though some of the MSME sectors of exports have come into positive territory, others such as plantations, marine products, RMG of all textiles, jute manufacturing including floor covering are still in negative territory or have shown negative growth during the month.

Gupta said that the main reason behind the impressive growth shown by gems and jewelry exports have been the increased import of gold and pearls, precious & semi-precious stones.

Some of the small and micro sectors of exports are still reeling under pressure because of the liquidity crunch as banks and financial institutions have continuously been tightening their lending norms and ITC refund for exports still poses a challenge, he said.

FIEO Chief added that significant contribution in the growth was made by engineering, petroleum, gems & jewellery, organic & inorganic chemicals, drugs & pharmaceuticals, electronic goods and plastic & linoleum sectors of exports, as they were not only in positive but has also helped the exports sector to continue on its higher double-digit growth trajectory in these difficult times.

Only 17 out of 30 major product groups were in positive territory during August 2018.

Gupta once again reiterated his concern on the rising trade deficit, primarily on account of swelling of crude imports bill due to rising global oil prices and higher gold import, which has further added pressure on Indian Rupee.

Though the Rupee depreciation has given some edge to Indian exports as Rupee is one of the worst performing currency in Asia in the current fiscal, yet its impact has varied from one sector to the other, he said.