The trade deficit so far this fiscal has increased to $50.58 billion as against $33.82 billion during April-January 2005-06, according to the provisional data released by the commerce ministry.
Exports in January 2006 stood at $8.45 billion, while imports were $11.36 billion, as per the provisional estimates of last financial year.
However, according to the provisionally revised figures of 2005-06, the export growth is much lower at 5.5 per cent in January 2007 compared to $9.14 billion in the same month a year ago.
Similarly, imports in January this year increased at 23.24 per cent when compared to the provisionally revised imports figure of $12.52 billion in January 2006.