CHINA'S auto exports have declined for 12 consecutive months since August last year because of a big contraction in the international auto market due to the financial crisis.

From the second half of last year, China's foreign trade experienced a sharp decline, with auto exports from January to July plunging 56.9 percent to 191,000 units, compared to the same period last year, Commerce Ministry official Zhou Ruojun said yesterday. China's January-August exports this year were also down 22.2 percent to US$730.74 billion.

Zhou said China's auto exports were facing an increasingly tough situation as there was an apparent rise of protectionism in international trade during the period.

But there were also quality and after-sale service problems found in Chinese-made vehicles in overseas markets, said Zhao Hang, president of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center.

He said one reason was that domestic auto exporters lacked knowledge about overseas demand, government policies, regulations and certification. Yesterday, the CATRC launched a training session in Beijing for domestic auto and parts makers.