The Government has decided to allow export of one million tonnes of Sugar. This was stated by the Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma while replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today. Replying to the main question, the Minister said, the global economic crisis, the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the economic slowdown in developed economics have adversely impacted demand for Indian exports. He said the monthly exports growth rate became negative in November 2011, it subsequently recovered but again became negative during March 2012. He said trade deficit increased by 55.8 per cent to 184.9 billion US dollars in 2011-12 from 118.7 billion US dollars in 2010-11. He said trade deficit during the current year has widened as imports have been growing both because of higher prices of importables and increased demand. Mr Sharma said the international prices of petroleum, fertilizers, gold and edible oil have increased along with their demand leading to a higher value of imports.