UPDATE 2-Russia oil exports soar in Sept, output edges down

(Adds figures, background)

MOSCOW, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Russian oil exports via major ports and pipelines soared in September, despite lower output, as oil firms rushed to export crude before the introduction of higher oil export duty, energy ministry data showed on Tuesday.

The data showed that oil exports via trunk pipelines of state monopoly Transneft (TRNF_p.MM) rose by 290,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September against August to 4.55 million bpd (18.612 million tonnes).

Russia is the world's second largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia and often produces more crude than the kingdom, which is artificially capping its output.

Russian September oil production slipped to 9.87 million bpd (40.412 million tonnes) from the post-Soviet high of 9.90 million bpd reached in August.

Production was up 1.3 percent versus September 2006, compared to a 1.5 percent rise in August year on year and 2.2 percent in July. To see the table click on [ID:nL02665602].

Russian officials have said they do not expect the country's production to grow by more than two percent this year. It is largely supported by rising output from the Exxon Mobil-led (XOM.N) Sakhalin-1 group.

In West Siberia, state-controlled oil major Rosneft (ROSN.MM) continued to lead growth with a 1.5 percent increase in monthly production and a 28 percent jump versus September 2006 following acquisition of assets of bankrupt oil firm YUKOS.

Surgutneftegas (SNGS.MM), Tatneft, Slavneft and Russneft all showed lower figures both on a monthly and an annual basis.