<h1>Trade deficit widened as imports rose faster than exports, altering December trade composition and cumulative flows.</h1> India's December 2020 merchandise trade shows marginally lower exports alongside higher imports, resulting in a widened monthly trade deficit. Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports grew year-on-year for December, while oil imports declined and non-oil, non-gems & jewellery imports increased. Commodity-level shifts-large percentage gains in certain cereals, oil meals and iron ore exports and steep declines in silver and newsprint imports-drove the monthly changes reflected in the preliminary value tables for December 2020 and April-December 2020-21.