China imported 23.37 million metric tons of crude oil in November, equivalent to 5.71 million barrels a day, preliminary data from the General Administration of Customs showed Monday.

Imports were 3.0% higher than the 22.69 million tons of crude shipped in during the corresponding month last year, and down 1.3% from 23.68 million tons in October, according to Dow Jones Newswires' calculations.

Refined oil product imports totaled 3.5 million tons in November, while exports totaled 2.15 million tons, the data showed.

China exported 120,000 tons of crude oil in November, the preliminary data showed.