BRASILIA, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Brazil posted a record $61 billion trade surplus in 2021, official data showed on Monday, and the Economy Ministry expects that figure to reach $79.4 billion this year due to a decline in imports. Last year, exports reached a record $280.4 billion in Latin America"s largest economy, mainly due to a rise in prices amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while imports totaled $219.4 billion. There was growth in exports mainly to the United States, which surged 44.9%. Sales to China - Brazil"s biggest trading partner - rose 28%. The biggest increase in imports in 2021 came from goods from the Mercosur trade bloc, rising 44.7%, followed by the United States at 41.3% and China at 36.7%. For 2022, the government"s expectations are for an increase in exports of 1.4% to $284.3 billion, while imports are expected to fall 6.6% to $204.9 billion, the ministry said. Forecasts call for more moderate growth in global trade this year. In December, Brazil had a trade surplus of $4 billion, on exports of $24.4 billion and imports of $20.4 billion.