India’s February merchandise trade deficit narrows to $27.1 billion as imports fall from January

What changed from January to February to narrow the deficit?

The deficit narrowed mainly because imports declined from about $71.24 billion in January to about $63.71 billion in February, while exports were roughly flat at around $36.61 billion. Reuters Hindustan Times

How did February’s deficit compare with expectations?

The $27.1 billion February deficit was smaller than the $28.8 billion median forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. Reuters Hindustan Times

Why are officials warning about risks to trade in the near term?

Officials and analysts pointed to the West Asia conflict and related disruptions—particularly around key shipping routes—as a factor that could raise logistics costs and weigh on exports, with the Commerce Secretary warning of a likely impact on March exports. Hindu Reuters Financial Express