Brazil Aug trade surplus narrows as exports drop

(Recasts, adds exports and imports)

SAO PAULO, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Brazil's trade surplus narrowed in August from July as exports dropped from a record the previous month, while imports edged higher, government data showed on Monday.

The surplus narrowed to $2.26 billion in August from $3.3 billion in July and compared with the $2 billion median estimate of 11 economists in a Reuters survey. The estimates ranged from $1.7 billion to $3.5 billion.

Brazil had a $3.54 billion trade surplus in August 2007.

Exports fell 3.4 percent month-on-month to $19.75 billion, while imports grew 1.9 percent to $17.48 billion, the trade ministry said. (Reporting by Elzio Barreto, editing by Maureen Bavdek)