Brazil's trade surplus rose 70.8 percent to 19.96 billion U.S. dollars from January to August, thanks to a commodity price hike that boosted the country's exports, authorities said Thursday.

The amount is close to last year's total of 20.2 billion dollars, said the Development, Industry and Trade Ministry.

In the first eight months, Brazil's exports were up 31.4 percent to 166.7 billion dollars in the first eight months of 2011, while imports rose 27.4 percent to 146.75 billion dollars, both hitting record high.

The Brazilian government expects the country's exports to reach 257 billion dollars this year.