Statistics Canada says the country’s merchandise trade surplus narrowed to $1.6 billion in November as imports rose and exports fell.
The result compared with a revised surplus of $3.2 billion in October. The initial reading for October released last month had been for a surplus of $3.0 billion.
For November, total imports rose 1.9%, helped by an 11.6% increase in imports of energy products, boosted by imports of uranium from Kazakhstan.
Imports of refined petroleum energy products also rose 18.8%, on higher imports of gasoline and aviation fuel from the United States.
Meanwhile, total exports fell 0.6% in November as exports of metal and non-metallic mineral products dropped 6.5%, mainly on lower exports of unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals. Exports of aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts fell 16.8%.
In volume terms, total imports in November were up 1.6%, while exports were down 0.1%.