MADRID, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Spain's trade deficit shrank by 33.6 percent in 2012 from a year earlier to 30.8 billion euros ($41.1 billion), Trade Secretary Jaime Garcia Legaz said on Tuesday, as imports to a economy deep in recession were outweighed by rising exports.

Exports rose 3.8 percent from a year earlier to 222.6 billion euros, while imports fell 2.9 percent to 253.4 billion euros, the Secretary said. ($1 = 0.7490 euros)

(Reporting By Manuel Ruiz; Writing by Paul Day; Editing by) Keywords: SPAIN TRADE/

(paul.e.day@thomsonreuters.com)(+34 91 585 83 08)(Reuters Messaging: paul.e.day.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

COPYRIGHT

Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. All rights reserved.

The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.