Canada posts 3rd monthly trade surplus

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.