Europe's largest economy Germany reported a new record trade surplus in 2016, official data showed Thursday, exporting 253 billion euros more than it imported.

Exports added 1.2 percent to top 1.2 trillion euros ($1.3 trillion), while imports climbed 0.6 percent to 955 billion euros, the federal statistics office Destatis said.

Germany has in recent weeks found itself fending off verbal attacks over its powerful export performance, including from US President Donald Trump's top trade advisor.