UPDATE 1-Ecuador posts Jan-Sept trade gap vs yr ago surplus

(Adds data, context)

QUITO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Ecuador's trade deficit was $510 million from January through September 2009 compared with a surplus of $2.409 billion during the same period in 2008, the central bank said on Wednesday.

The country's exports, particularly oil, have been clobbered by the world slowdown, which has reduced demand for the commodities produced in South America.

Petroleum sales from the OPEC-member country fell 53 percent in the first nine months of the year versus the same 2008 period.

The Andean nation's commercial deficit in September was $31 million, shrinking from a $219 million deficit during the same month a year ago, the bank said.

In August, Ecuador had a commercial surplus of $175.2 million, the central bank said in a report published on its website.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Rebekah Kebede, editing by W Simon )