DUBLIN: Ireland raised its trade surplus by 16.0 percent in May from the April level as exports outpaced imports, and the country emerges from an international bail-out, official data showed Monday.

The seasonally-adjusted trade surplus, ironing out blips, grew to 3.34 billion euros ($4.55 billion) in May from 2.876 billion euros in April, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said in a statement.

Eurozone nation Ireland is relying strongly on exports to fuel growth in its economy since exiting an international financial rescue programme in December.

The CSO said that Irish exports increased by 15.0 percent to 7.88 billion euros.

Imports grew by 14.0 percent to 4.54 billion euros.

The European Union accounted for 52 percent of total exports in May, with the United States remaining the main non-EU destination accounting for 23 percent of total exports, the CSO added.