JOHANNESBURG, July 31 (Reuters) - South Africa's trade deficit narrowed to

7.71 billion rand ($786 million) in June from 11.03 billion rand in May, the

South African Revenue Service said on Wednesday.

Exports in June rose 3.4 percent from a month before to 2.24 billion rand,

while imports fell 2.0 percent to 1.58 billion rand. Economists had expected a

bigger shortfall of 9.1 billion rand in the trade account.

The cumulative deficit for the year now stands at 75.94 billion rand,

compared with 51.58 billion rand in 2012.

JUNE TRADE

WORLD ZONES TRADE BALANCE EXPORTS IMPORTS

(R'bln) (% of total) (% of total)

Africa 6.873 20.86 9.69

Europe -5.726 24.30 29.37

America -1.132 11.57 11.88

Asia -12.579 34.01 47.12

Oceania -0.629 1.07 1.79

Other unclassified goods 5.387 8.06 0.15

Ships/Aircraft stores 0.096 0.14 --

($1 = 9.8067 South African rand)

(Reporting by Xola Potelwa; Editing by Jon Herskovitz)

Keywords: SAFRICA TRADE/

(xola.potelwa@thomsonreuters.com)(+27 11 775 3098)(Reuters Messaging: xola.potelwa.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.