South Korea's trade surplus widened to a new high of US$44.19 billion in 2013 as its exports grew at a steady rate while imports dwindled, the government said Wednesday. In 2013, the country's outbound shipments came to US$559.72 billion, up 2.2 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports slipped 0.8 percent on-year to $515.53 billion.