Canada posts 3rd monthly trade surplus

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OTTAWA, March 9 (UPI) -- Canada posted its third straight month of trade surplus in January despite decreases in both imports and exports, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

Exports decreased 2.3 percent to $41.4 billion in January, while imports dipped 0.6 percent to $39.3 billion, the agency said.

That narrowed Canada's international trade surplus to $2.1 billion from $2.9 billion in December.

"Exports to the United States edged up 0.3 percent to $30.6 billion in January, largely on the strength of crude petroleum," StatsCan said. "Imports from the United States declined 0.3 percent to $24.5 billion.

"Consequently, Canada's trade surplus with the United States increased from $5.9 billion in December to $6.1 billion in January."

Exports to countries other than the United States fell 9 percent to $10.8 billion in January, while imports from those countries decreased 0.9 percent to $14.8 billion.

"Canada's trade deficit with countries other than the United States increased from $3 billion in December to $4 billion in January," the report said.