Imports rose by 26.36 per cent to 18.07 billion dollars, leaving a trade deficit of 6.21 billion dollars, according to official data released on Monday.
The exports growth in May this year was lower than the April figure of 23.06 per cent. Significantly, oil imports dropped 2.99 per cent to 4.74 billion dollars in May this fiscal from 4.88 billion dollars in the same month of the previous year.
Fuelled by fast economic growth, non-oil imports went up by a robust 41.58 per cent to 13.33 billion dollars against 9.42 billion dollars in May, 2006-07.