Exports have gone up by over 35 percent in the first two months of the current fiscal as compared to the same period last year. Briefing media, the Commerce Secretary, Mr. Rahul Khullar said that the exports during April-May were to the tune of 33 billion US dollars against 24.4 billion US Dollars in April-May last year. The leather industry which was posting negative growth registered a growth of over 33 percent while the iron-ore exports more then doubled both in terms of quantity and price. Engineering goods, Gems and jewellery, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals and Petroleum products also continued to show positive growth but the growth in the readymade garments fell by 7 percent in May. Mr. Khullar said that while things are looking bright, it is still not time for celebrations. As far as the imports are concerned, they went up to 54.7 billion US dollars in April-May this year as compared to 38.9 billion US dollars last year. Mr. Khullar said that while the exports have picked up and are much higher than last year, they are still less as compared to the same period in 2008-09. The trade deficit which was 19.7 billion US dollars in the first two months is close to the level in the year 2008-09.