Export Performance and Prospects P I Suvrathan Examining trends and prospects of machine tool exports and analysing the shifting trade pattern, this paper tries to identify the weakness of India's export thrust in terms of such parameters as effective rate of protection and domestic resource cost. It is argued that (he weakness of India's export thrust lies not so much in the inability to offer competitive prices as in other factors such as delivery, service support, lack of brand image, finish and technological excellence.