Exports of Canadian merchandise rose 2.8% in November, halting two consecutive declines with increases in all sectors but agriculture and forestry while imports inched up 0.4%, Statistics Canada reported today.

Canadian companies exported merchandise worth $38.1 billion in November while imports stood at $33.5 billion.

As a result, Canada’s merchandise trade surplus with the world widened to $4.7 billion from $3.8 billion in October.

Exports to the United States reversed a downward trend that dominated the second half of 2006, surging 3.6% to $29.4 billion with gains in exports of energy and autos.

The United States, Canada’s biggest trading partner, accounted for only 77% of all merchandise exports in November, compared with 82% a year ago and 84% in November 2002.

Exports to the United States were 1.7% lower in the first 11 months of 2006 compared with the same period a year earlier while exports to countries other than the United States were up 13% over the same period.