India's CAD hits an all time high of 5.4% of GDP in second quarter

01 Jan 2013 Evaluate

India’s current account deficit (CAD) hits an all time high of 5.4% of gross domestic product or $22.3 billion in the July-September period of 2012, mainly on the back of declining exports. The CAD represents the difference between exports and imports after considering cash remittances and payment. CAD was $18.9 billion in the same period a year ago and $16.4 in the first quarter of 2012.

Merchandise exports recorded a negative growth of 12.2% during Q2 of 2012-13 as against an increase of 45.3% during corresponding quarter of 2011-12. Services exports again registered a lower growth of just 7.7% against a 10% growth recorded in the same quarter last year. On the other hand, imports registered slower pace of 4.8% growth during the quarter. As a result, sharp decline in exports than that in imports led to the widening of trade deficit to $48.3 billion during second quarter, from $44.5 billion a year ago.

While, addressing the balance of payment statement for second quarter, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that rise in import and moderating export growth raised net services receipts in second quarter, which led to the widening of the CAD. High current account deficit put adverse impact on rupee value and lowers foreign exchange reserves. India imports 75 percent of its crude oil requirement; high crude oil prices with rise in gold import had raised the CAD to 4.2 percent of GDP in the 2011-12.

However, government has taken various steps to check the import like levy more duties on gold import and channelize people's fund into equities and other financial instruments. With these efforts, foreign exchange reserves increased by $5.1 billion during the quarter, mainly reflecting depreciation of the US dollar against major international currencies.

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