(Adds detail on latest trade data) BRASILIA, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Brazil posted a $4.32 billion trade surplus in September, slightly less than the consensus forecast in a Reuters poll for a $4.5 billion surplus and down from a $5.1 billion surplus in the same month last year, the Economy Ministry said. Exports increased 33% over September 2020 to $24.28 billion, but imports rose faster by 52% to $19.96 billion, shrinking the surplus, the ministry said. For the first nine months of this year, the trade surplus was $56.4 billion dollars, higher than the surplus of $40.8 billion dollars in the same period last year. International trade is expected to be a net contributor to Brazil’s economic growth this year, but the ministry has revised down the overall trade surplus expected this year to $70.9 billion from $105.3 billion forecast in July. The revised forecast for total exports this year is $281 billion, down from $307.5 billion predicted in July, and total imports are now expected to be 210 billion, higher than the 202.2 billion forecast in July. Reporting by Marcela Ayres Editing by Chizu Nomiyama Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.