[THE INVESTOR] 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 on June 1.

Outbound shipments reached US$50.98 billion last month, compared with US$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 US$44.25 billion.

Korea’s trade surplus came to US$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 US$50 billion mark, according to the ministry.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)