New Delhi, Aug. 14 -- India's merchandise exports surged 19.63% year-on-year to a record $44.24 billion in July, even as imports rose 17.52% to $76.22 billion, widening the merchandise trade deficit to a six-month high of $31.98 billion, according to government data released on Thursday. July exports were the highest ever for the month, rising from $36.98 billion a year earlier. Commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal attributed the increase to higher shipments of petroleum products, electronics, engineering goods and marine products. Exports to West Asian countries, which had plunged in March amid the war, recovered to normal levels by June and grew 8.62% year-on-year to $5.7 billion in July, Agrawal said. Despite the stronger growth in exports ...