New Delhi, July 13 -- India's merchandise exports rose in June, led by engineering goods, petroleum products and electronic goods. However, a much sharper increase in imports widened the merchandise trade deficit to $30.43 billion as against $19.10 billion a year ago. These exports rose 15.5% year-on-year to $40.41 billion, while imports climbed nearly 31% to $70.84 billion, according to provisional data released by the commerce ministry on Monday.

In the services segment, exports rose to $33.03 billion in June from $32.11 billion a year earlier, while the imports increased to $17.92 billion from $15.90 billion.

The overall trade deficit, including services, was at $15.31 billion in June, compared with $2.89 billion in the corresponding...