UPDATE 2-Argentina March trade surplus narrows 26 pct

(Adds details on exports and imports)

BUENOS AIRES, April 23 (Reuters) - Argentina's March trade surplus narrowed by 26 percent from the same month last year, the Economy Ministry said on Monday, falling below market forecasts as imports jumped.

The trade surplus was $679 million in March compared with $920 million a year ago. The median forecast from a Reuters survey of 12 analysts was $875.5 million, with estimates ranging from $750 million to $1.1 billion.

Imports, pushed higher by an increase in shipments from abroad of soybeans and minerals, climbed 26 percent in March to $3.42 billion.

Exports rose 12 percent to $4.01 billion, lifted partially by a rise in corn exports, the ministry said.

Argentina's February trade surplus slipped to $720 million from the year-earlier period, while January's surplus plummeted to $418 million.

Latin America's No. 3 economy has grown more than 8 percent in each of the last four years and imports have rebounded as a result, particularly those of intermediate and capital goods.

The economy expanded 8.2 percent in the first quarter of 2007. The trade surplus in the January-March period narrowed 28.3 percent compared to the same period last year as imports increased 24 percent, the ministry said.

Argentina registered a trade surplus of $12.31 billion last year compared with $11.66 billion in 2005, according to the latest revised figures.

A central bank survey from last month put March's trade surplus at a median of $880 million and the 2007 surplus at $11.72 billion BCRA30.