New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS): India's merchandise export grew for the ninth straight month in July by 13.2 percent to $16.2 billion (Rs.76,064 crore), compared to corresponding month last year, official data released Wednesday showed.

India's cumulative exports in the first four months of the current fiscal, registered a 30.1 percent growth at $68.62 billion (Rs.31,5302 crore), according to the data released by the commerce ministry.

Imports, too rose, increasing by 34.3 percent in the month under review $29.17 billion (Rs.136,625 crore), compared to $21.7 billion (Rs.105,312 crore) in July 2009, the statement said.

The country's cumulative import for April-July grew by 33.3 percent to $112.2 billion (Rs.515,617 crore) during April-July as against $84.15 billion (Rs.409,518 crore) in the first four months of last fiscal.

Oil imports during July were at $7.6 billion, 4.4 percent higher than oil imports worth $7.34 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Non-oil imports during the month rose 49.6 percent to $21.5 billion, compared to $14.37 billion.

The trade deficit for April-July was $43.58 billion, which was higher than the deficit of $31.42 billion during the previous corresponding period.