The adjusted trade surplus in May was 19.1 billion euros, up from 14.7 billion euros in April. Analysts had expected a much smaller increase to 14.8 billion euros in May.
Exports rose 0.9 percent month on month after rising 0.8 percent in April. Analysts had expected a decline of 0.4 percent on average.
Imports fell by 2.5 percent compared with the previous month after increasing 1.1 percent in April. Expectations were for a decline of 0.8 percent in May.
