Canadian Sept. exports down, imports up

OTTAWA, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Widespread price declines pushed Canadian export values down in September as imports increased, the Statistics Canada agency reported Thursday from Ottawa.

Exports fell 1 percent to $42.5 billion as imports rose 1.9 percent to $38 billion, which decreased the country's international trade surplus to $4.5 billion in September from $5.6 billion in August, the agency said.

Exports to the United States dipped fell 1.3 percent to $32.1 billion, the second consecutive month of decline as imports remained relatively unchanged at $23.7 billion.

"Exports to countries other than the United States remained flat at $10.4 billion, while imports from these countries collectively increased 5.5 percent," StatsCan said.

Falling prices and rising volumes led to energy products posting a third consecutive monthly decline of 1.4 percent to $11.3 billion, the report said.

Offsetting the export decline was forestry products, which saw its largest jump in 18 months. Exports rose 7.2 percent to $2.3 billion, attributed mostly to newsprint demand that is growing, particularly in Asia and Latin America, the agency said.