JOHANNESBURG- South Africa's trade surplus narrowed to 19.78 billion rand ($1.23 billion) in October from a revised surplus of 22.15 billion rand in September, data from the revenue service showed on Tuesday.

Exports fell 5.7% on a month-on-month basis to 147.92 billion rand, while imports were down 4.9% to 128.14 billion rand, the South African Revenue Service said.

($1 = 16.0427 rand)

(Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by Alex Richardson) ((Olivia.Kumwenda@thomsonreuters.com; +27 10 346 1084;))