OTTAWA — Canada’s merchandise exports rose an impressive 9.7 percent to $37.8 billion in December, led mainly by a 16.5-percent gain in volumes of energy products.

Export volumes, up 6.6 percent, also increased in most sectors, while prices rose 2.9 percent, reports Statscan.

Both volumes and prices have risen in 8 of the past 12 months.

Energy products made up half the growth (up 25.1%) to $8.6 billion in the value of exports, followed by industrial goods and materials (+7%), which reached a record high of $10.3 billion as precious metals and copper ores reached unprecedented levels.

Notable increases were also recorded in exports of machinery and equipment, agricultural and fishing products (7.6%) as well as forestry products (9.7%).

The value of imports, meanwhile, was off pace, edging up 0.7 percent to $34.8 billion.

All import sectors except other consumer goods posted modest gains in December.

Again, on the strength of energy products, exports to the U.S. rose 10.8 percent to $26.7 billion.