China's exports outperformed market expectations in November due to improved data in the United States and the European Union.

Exports went up 12.7 percent year on year in November and imports gained 5.3 percent year on year, according to the General Administration of Customs on December 8.

November's export growth is above market expectations of 7 percent, indicating improved data in the United States and the European Union, said Liu Ligang, chief Greater China economist at ANZ Banking Group.

Foreign trade stood at $370.6 billion in November, including $202.2 billion of exports and imports worth $168.4 billion.

Trade surplus hit $33.8 billion in November, the second month that China has reported a trade surplus of more than $30 billion.

Foreign trade gained 7.7 percent year on year to climb to $3.8 trillion in the first 11 months. China targeted a foreign trade growth of 8 percent year on year in 2013.