Mexico's auto production fell 23% in September from the year-ago month to 146,295 units, the Mexican Auto Industry Association, or AMIA, said Monday.

AMIA said exports were down 19% from September 2008 to 117,433, while domestic new-car sales fell 24% from a year ago to 58,505 units.

The size of the year-on-year declines in auto production and exports continued to ease in a sign that the worst of the recession has passed.

The auto industry, Mexico's biggest single manufacturing sector, was hit hard by a slump in demand in the U.S. and Mexico.

-By Paul Kiernan, Dow Jones Newswires; (5255) 5001 5726, paul.kiernan@dowjones.com