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The mix of partial and complete lockdowns in different states led to limitations on workforce capacities and related manufacturing activities.

GJEPC chairman Colin Shah said operational challenges brought on by the fact that all exporters maintain common inventory for both export and domestic streams.

The exports during the first week of January last year were at USD 5.34 billion.

The decline in gold and silver imports has helped in narrowing the country's trade deficit, difference between imports and exports, to $42 billion during April-November 2020-21 as against $113.42 billion in the year-ago period.

Exports during April-October 2020-21 stood at $150.07 billion, registering a decline of 19.05 per cent over the same period last year

“We expect the exports to witness a decline of 20 25 per cent in 2020-21, compared with last year. With demand improving gradually, we should be at our 2019-20 levels next year. Growth will come back only maybe by 2021-22,”