UPDATE 1-Argentine trade surplus widens 25 pct in January

* Argentine trade surplus up on manufacturing exports

* Imports, exports rise in a sign of economic recovery (Recasts first parapraph, adds breakdown of exports, imports, background)

BUENOS AIRES Feb 23 (Reuters) - Argentina's trade surplus widened 25 percent in January from the same month a year ago as both exports and imports rose, signaling an economic recovery is underway in Latin America's No. 3 economy.

The trade surplus reached $1.22 billion last month, up from $971 million a year ago, the government's statistics bureau said on Tuesday, confirming the numbers given last week by President Cristina Fernandez.

Exports rose 19 percent to $4.42 billion during the month, boosted by industrial manufacturing sales, while imports were 16 percent higher at $3.21 billion.

Last year, Argentina ran a trade surplus of nearly $17 billion with both imports and exports plunging as the economy slowed because of the global economic crisis.

Argentina is a leading global agricultural exporter and ranks as the world's No. 3 soy exporter and the top world supplier of soyoil and meal.

The country's manufacturing exports have been boosted, however, by soaring car exports to neighboring Brazil, where government tax breaks have increased demand. (Reporting by Walter Brandimarte; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)