OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country’s merchandise trade deficit narrowed in December to $1.3 billion as growth in exports outpaced a rise in imports.
The agency says the result compared with a revised deficit of $2.6 billion for November. The November deficit had initially been reported at $2.2 billion.
For December, total exports rose 2.6 per cent to $65.6 billion, boosted by an 18 per cent increase in the metal and non-metallic mineral products group, which includes unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals, and their alloys — a category largely composed of unwrought gold.
Excluding the metal and non-metallic mineral products group, exports edged down 0.2 per cent in December.
Total imports rose 0.6 per cent in December to $66.9 billion as imports of motor vehicles and parts gained 5.1 per cent for the month.
In volume terms, both exports and imports rose 1.4 per cent.
