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Statistics Canada announced that Canada’s merchandise exports edged up 0.2% in September, while imports decreased 0.3%. As a result, Canada’s merchandise trade surplus with the world widened from $5.0 billion in August to $5.4 billion in September.

The Federal Agency notes that despite the slight monthly increase in exports, declines were observed in 8 of the 11 product sections. Exports of energy products and metal and non-metallic mineral products increased the most in September. Excluding these two product sections, exports fell 5.6% in September.

Exports to the United States increased 0.7% in September, mainly because of higher exports of crude oil and unwrought gold. Meanwhile, imports from the United States were up 0.4%, in part on higher shipments of processing units. Canada’s trade surplus with the United States widened from $12.1 billion in August to $12.3 billion in September.

Exports to countries other than the United States fell 1.1% in September, decreasing for a second consecutive month after reaching a record high in July. Lower exports to the United Kingdom (gold), Japan (coal and wheat) and Peru (diesel and wheat) were partially offset by higher exports to South Korea (copper, coal and crude oil). The share of Canadian exports destined to countries other than the United States decreased from 30.1% in August to 29.8% in September.

Imports from countries other than the United States declined 1.4% in September. Lower imports from China, Japan and Mexico contributed the most to the decrease, mainly on lower imports of passenger cars and light trucks.

Canada’s trade deficit with countries other than the United States narrowed slightly from $7.1 billion in August to $7.0 billion in September.