India's trade deficit widens to $14.62 billion in May

India's merchandise exports in May rose 20.2 per cent year-on-year, the trade ministry said on Friday, but the trade deficit widened to $14.62 billion driven mainly by a 50 per cent surge in oil imports despite higher global prices.

Merchandise exports last month rose to $28.86 billion from a year ago, while imports rose 14.85 per cent on year to $43.48 billion, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.