A jump in Canadian energy exports to the U.S. and further weakening of the loonie saw Canada’s trade surplus with its neighbor balloon in December, helping the country to its first goods-trade surplus with the world in 10 months.

Canada in December posted its first trade surplus in 10 months as exports expanded faster than imports, led by a push by U.S. businesses to build up inventory ahead of potential tariffs on Canada and generally strong U.

Canada’s energy exports to the US jumped at the end of last year, pushing the country’s trade surplus with its biggest customer to the highest in more than two years.

The December trade surplus was at $708-million, from a revised deficit of $986-million the prior month, helped by an 4.9% growth in exports, Statistics Canada said

Canada saw its first trade surplus in ten months in December as exports continued to expand faster than imports, led by higher energy product exports, higher crude oil prices and partly by weaker local currency,

OTTAWA - Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade surplus with the world was $708 million in December.

Canada recorded its first trade surplus in ten months in December, reaching C$708 million, driven by increased energy exports and higher crude oil prices. The surplus with the U.S. grew, while imports fell slightly.

Statistics Canada says the country’s merchandise trade surplus with the world was $708 million in December. The result compared with a revised deficit of $986 million in November. The agency says exports rose 4.9% to $69.5 billion in December.

The December trade surplus was at C$708 million ($496 million), compared with a revised deficit of C$986 million the prior month, helped by an 4.9 per cent growth in exports