(LEAD) S. Korea's exports jump 13.5 pct on-year in May

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SEJONG, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports spiked 13.5 percent in May from a year earlier, rebounding from a brief dip in the previous month, government data showed Friday.

Outbound shipments reached US$50.98 billion last month, compared with $44.92 billion a year ago, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Imports surged 12.6 percent on-year to $44.25 billion.

South Korea's trade surplus came to $6.73 billion, marking 76 straight months in which the country's exports have exceeded imports, the ministry said.

May is also the third straight month that the country's exports topped the $50 billion mark, according to the ministry.

In the first five months of the year, the country's cumulative exports reached a record $246.4 billion, up 8.2 percent from a year earlier.

sam@yna.co.kr
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