TAIPEI - Taiwan's exports rose in June to the highest ever level for the period after dropping for seven consecutive months, the latest trade data revealed.

Exports increased 0.5 percent year on year to $28.39 billion in June, while imports rose 6.6 percent from the previous year to $24.51 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $3.87 billion, according to Taiwan's trade data.

For the first six months, exports dropped by 3.4 percent from a year earlier to $158.23 billion, while imports stood at $138.29 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $19.95 billion.

The Chinese mainland remained the biggest trade partner of Taiwan in the first six months, receiving $42.16 billion of the island's exports, or 26.6 percent of the total, according to the data.

During the six-month period, Taiwan exported $26.16 billion worth of goods and services to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, $22.05 billion to the United States, $15 billion to Europe and $11.45 billion to Japan.