Exports, imports stabilize after strong March

OTTAWA — Canadian merchandise trade imports declined in April, while there was little change in exports, reports Stats Canada.

In March, both imports and exports had registered strong increases as transportation flows returned to normal following a CN Rail traffic disruption in February.

Canadian exports edged down 0.3 percent to $40.7 billion from a revised $40.8 billion in March. Imports fell 2.2 percent in April to $34.9 billion, driven by declines in all sectors except energy.

The decline in imports surpassed the drop in exports. As a result, the trade surplus with the world expanded to $5.8 billion in April from a revised $5.1 billion in March. While the surplus with the United States edged down to $8.0 billion, the deficit with the rest of the world narrowed to $2.3 billion.

Canada’s exports to countries other than the United States reached $10.1 billion, however — a 7.7 percent gain.

Declines in energy, automotive products (down 4.6%) and forestry exports (down 1.4%) overshadowed record high exports of industrial goods and agricultural and fishing products, which rose on the back of record high exports of wheat (plus 29.8%).

Meanwhile, imports of energy products increased 1.5 percent to $3.1 billion with coal and other related products almost doubling in value, after a decline in March.

But the largest sector in terms of value, machinery and equipment, declined 4.8 percent to $9.5 billion after two consecutive months of strong gains.


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