With non-oil imports showing a 25.93 per cent increase during the first two months of the current fiscal, India's import bill is up 19.55 per cent at $11.22 billion from $9.39 billion in April-May 2002.

According to the provisional trade data released on Tuesday, non-oil imports during the two-month period have been estimated at $8.3 billion, compared to $6.59 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Oil imports, which account for over a quarter of India's import bill, have risen 4.48 per cent to $2.92 billion in April-May this year from $2.79 billion in the corresponding period last year. This has been attributed to a decrease in international petroleum prices.

Imports were valued at $5.62 billion in May 2003 against $5.18 billion in May 2002, an increase of 8.57 per cent.

Exports grew 13.53 per cent in May this year to reach $4.52 billion from $3.98 billion in May 2002.

Exports during April-May 2003 were estimated at $8.86 billion, 11.12 per cent higher than the $7.98 billion in the corresponding period last year.

The trade deficit for April-May 2003 was estimated at $2.36 billion, compared to $1.41 billion in the corresponding period last year. During May this year, the trade deficit was estimated at $660 million.