BEIJING — China's automobile exports reached 128,000 units in November, up 17.4 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

A total of 107,000 cars were imported last month, down 12.3 percent from one year ago, MOC spokesperson Gao Feng told a press briefing on Dec 17.

In the first 11 months of the year, the country's automobile exports fell 15.8 percent year-on-year to 955,000 units, narrowing the decline from the first half of the year (H1) by 7.8 percentage points, said the ministry.

During the period, 821,000 cars were imported, down 15 percent year-on-year, a pace of decline 17.5 percentage points slower than H1, MOC data showed.

China's auto market, hit hard by COVID-19, began to recover in April thanks to unleashed pent-up demand and supportive policies, with sales rising 4.4 percent year-on-year, ending a 21-month contraction streak, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.