New Delhi: Merchandise exports rose 30.55 per cent to $26.19 billion last month, reversing the October decline, narrowing the month-on-month trade deficit to $13.83 billion.

In October trade deficit was $14 billion. However, in November 2016 trade deficit was $13.39 billion.

On a year-on-year basis, exports in November 2016 stood at $20.06 billion.

Imports grew 19.61 per cent to $40 billion in November from $33.46 billion in the same month last year, commerce ministry data released on Friday showed.

"There are signs of green shoots for next year but headwinds remain in the form of protectionism and volatility in currencies," Fieo president Ganesh Kumar Gupta said.

The better show in exports was helped by a robust growth in the shipments of gems and jewellery and engineering goods. Exports had witnessed a decline of 1.12 per cent to $23 billion in October this year, retreating from a six-month high growth rate in September.

Meanwhile, gold imports dropped 25.96 per cent to $3.26 billion last month.