Strong Exports Help Triple Japan’s Trade Surplus in May : * Commerce: A slowdown in travel by Japanese tourists also contributed.

Japan’s trade surplus, a ticklish issue in relations with Washington, is on the rise again, tripling in May.

The surplus in the current account, which measures trade in goods and services, widened to $4.27 billion in May from a revised $1.4 billion a year earlier, the Finance Ministry reported.

“This is just the latest indication that Japan’s current account is going to continue growing,” said Matthew Berlow, economist at Credit Lyonnais Alexanders Laing & Cruickshank Securities.

Economists said strong exports and sluggish overseas tourism, a key component of the “invisibles sector,” are responsible for the higher figure.

Japan’s persistent trade surplus has become a rallying cry for members of Congress who contend that it is unfairly restricting imports while improperly subsidizing exports.

Within the overall figure, the merchandise trade surplus grew to $5.49 billion from $2.62 billion a year earlier.

Exports, which have climbed steadily in recent months, continued to reflect solid demand for Japanese goods in Asia and Europe as well as a strong yen.

Exports climbed 12% to $23.75 billion from $21.16 billion a year earlier.

Exports to Asia rose on demand for Japanese manufacturing equipment. Europe bought mostly consumer electronics.

Russell Jones, economist at UBS Phillips & Drew International Ltd., said the strong yen will continue to inflate exports through the fall.

Imports fell 1.5% to $18.27 billion. They were weak because Japan’s slowing economy is reducing demand for products such as luxury German autos and art works. A Finance Ministry official said weak gold imports also helped explain the lower figure.

The deficit in the invisibles account, which is normally pushed into the red by Japan’s big-spending overseas tourists, narrowed slightly in May to a $1.08-billion shortfall from $1.14 billion a year earlier.

Japanese travelers have been slow to reschedule trips canceled during the Gulf War. Weaker economic growth may have persuaded some that they can’t afford lavish foreign holidays as before.

Economists said interest on payments from overseas investments continues to be strong, helping to reduce the invisibles account.