Canada posts record trade deficit outside of US

OTTAWA: Canada posted a record trade deficit with countries other than its neighbor the United States in March while its surplus with the US widened, according to government data released Thursday.

Canada exported more gold to Britain, aluminum and crude oil to the Netherlands, aircraft and crude oil to Germany and transportation equipment to Saudi Arabia.

But the rise in exports was outpaced by higher imports led by computer shipments from China and cars and trucks from Mexico -- yielding a record deficit of Can$6.8 billion (US$5.0 billion), Statistics Canada said.

Canada's trade surplus with its largest trading partner the United States, meanwhile, widened to Can$3.6 billion.

The combined figures resulted in a total trade deficit narrowing from Can$3.4 billion in February to Can$3.2 billion in March -- topping analysts' expectations.

Total exports, led by increased crude oil shipments, rose 3.2 percent to Can$49.0 billion. Exports of coal, natural gas and refined petroleum products, as well as passenger cars and light trucks were also up.

Total imports rose 2.5 percent to Can$52.3 billion. The increase was mainly due to the purchases of more consumer goods, notably clothing from Bangladesh and Cambodia, as well as commercial trucks.

There were also fewer deliveries of aircraft from the United States in the month.