OTTAWA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Canada's merchandise exports edged up 0.2 percent, while imports decreased 0.3 percent, widening the merchandise trade surplus to 5.4 billion Canadian dollars (about 3.9 billion U.S. dollars) in September, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.
According to the national statistical agency, crude oil and gold accounted for the increase in exports. Excluding energy products and metal and non-metallic mineral products, exports fell 5.6 percent in September. In volume terms, total exports were down 4 percent.
The agency said imports of motor vehicles and parts posted the largest decline in September. Excluding this product section, imports increased 1.5 percent. In volume terms, total imports were down 2.5 percent.
Including both goods and services, exports increased 0.3 percent to 99.9 billion Canadian dollars in September, while imports edged up 0.1 percent to 94.2 billion Canadian dollars. Canada's total trade surplus with the world widened from 5.4 billion Canadian dollars in August to 5.7 billion Canadian dollars in September, Statistics Canada said.
