Canada’s trade deficit widened to Can$1 billion (US$980 million) in February as imports of consumer goods reached a record high, the government’s statistical agency said Friday.
The eleventh consecutive monthly deficit was up from a revised Can$746 million (US$731 million) in the previous month, according to Statistics Canada.
Exports decreased to Can$38.5 billion (US$37.7) while imports edged up to Can$39.5 billion (US$38.7 billion).
Exports of unwrought precious metals and precious metal alloys, communications and audio and video equipment as well as electronic and electrical parts fell.
Lower volumes of dyes and pigments, petrochemicals and of basic chemicals were partially offset by higher exports of lubricants and other petroleum refinery products.
The number of passenger cars and light trucks shipped abroad also rose.
Meanwhile, imports of lubricants and other petroleum refinery products, passenger cars and light trucks, motor vehicle engines and motor vehicle parts, basic chemicals, and of fertilizer, pesticide and other chemical products rose.
Imports of consumer goods also rose 2.3 percent to a record high of Can$8.0 billion (US$7.8 billion).
However crude oil and crude bitumen imports declined.
Exports to the United States decreased while imports were up, pushing Canada’s trade surplus with its largest trading partner from Can$3.9 billion (US$3.8 billion) in January to Can$3.4 billion (US$3.3 billion) in February.
Canada imports more consumer goods, trade deficit up
