OTTAWA — Canada’s trade deficit with the world went from $539 million in July to $622 million in August as a result of a 0.7 percent increase in merchandise imports and a 0.5 percent increase in exports, says a Statscan report.

Imports climbed to $38.5 billion with prices up 0.8 percent and volumes down 0.1 percent. All sectors marked price increases, save for energy products.

Exports went up to $37.9 billion and higher prices — a 1.6 percent increase — were noted in most sectors. Volumes dropped 1.1 percent. For the fourth straight month, the main contributors to the gain were machinery and equipment, and industrial goods and materials.

Canada’s exports to the U.S. sunk 2.3 percent to $26.6 billion, while imports from the States rose 2.0 percent to $24.1 billion, marking the highest level since October 2008. Our trade surplus with the States dropped from $3.7 billion in July to $2.5 billion in August.

Exports to countries other than the U.S. reached a record high of $11.2 billion—an increase of 7.9 percent—and marked the fourth consecutive monthly gain. Imports from countries other than the U.S. dropped 1.4 percent to $14.4 billion, causing Canada’s trade deficit to drop from July’s $4.2 billion to $3.2 billion in August.

On the import front, trucks and other motor vehicles made records when they reached a high in August as both prices and volumes climbed, and imports of automotive products increased 2.3 percent with a 2.0 increase in prices. August was also the fourth consecutive month gain for passenger autos and chassis imports.

Aircraft and other transportation equipment led the increase in imports. Due to higher prices, machinery and equipment gained 2.5 percent landing at $10.5 billion.

As crude petroleum fell, energy sector imports drop 13.6 percent moderating the overall increase in imports.

The main contributors to the increase in exports were machinery and equipment with a 7.3 percent, and aircraft and transportation jumping 18.0 percent. Industrial goods and materials were also up.

And — surprise, surprise — exports of energy products dropped 2.7 percent to $8.5 billion due to declines in petroleum and coal. And due to a decline in autos and chassis, exports of automotive products fell 7.5 percent with volumes dropping 10.1 percent.