India's exports grew 4.48% in February to $25.8 billion and led to narrowing of the trade deficit to $12 billion, official data showed on Thursday. Though exports in eighteen out of 30 sectors grew, outbound shipments of traditional industries like gems and jewellery, readymade garments and carpets declined.Import growth outpaced that of exports despite the contraction in imports of gold and transport equipment. A 17% decline in gold imports last month aided a slower growth in imports at 10.4% compared with 26% rise in January.“The country's merchandise exports are showing continuous positive growth,” commerce secretary Rita Teaotia said on Thursday.The major commodity groups of export showing positive growth year-on-year are petroleum products (27.44%), organic & inorganic chemicals (30.41%), drugs & pharmaceuticals (13.92%), rice (21.29%) and electronic goods (29.71%).“Exports have been on a positive trajectory since August 2016 to February 2018 except for a temporary setback in October 2017,” commerce and industry ministry said in a statement on Thursday.“Export growth was dampened by contraction in textiles, iron ore, engineering goods and gems & jewellery. In contrast, higher commodity prices supported the exports as well as imports of petroleum products and chemicals,” said Aditi Nayar, principal economist at ICRA.With the high 20.4% expansion in services exports outpacing the 17.1% growth in services imports, the services surplus rose to a 25 month high $6.5 billion in January 2018.