Gold exports surged and energy prices soared, leading to Canada's first trade surplus in six months.

Canada achieved its first merchandise trade surplus in six months in March, due to a surge in gold shipments and rising energy prices driving export growth. Statistics Canada said on Tuesday that there was a merchandise trade surplus of 1.78 billion Canadian dollars in March. The agency reported that exports in March grew by 8.5% to 72.77 billion Canadian dollars, the second-highest level in history, while imports fell by 1.6% to 70.99 billion Canadian dollars. Canadian exports to the United States increased by 8.3%, while imports from the United States decreased by 1.2%, expanding Canada's long-term trade surplus with its neighbor from 2.86 billion Canadian dollars in February to 7.07 billion Canadian dollars in March.