by Flagpictures.org
From January to September 2018, Canada’s exported goods were valued at $338.7 billion. This 9-month metric puts Canadian exports on track for an annualized $449.8 billion estimated for all 2018 and a projected 6.9% year-over-year gain.
Based on estimates from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, Canada’s exported goods plus services represent 31.4% of total Canadian economic output or Gross Domestic Product. The analysis below focuses on exported products only.
From a continental perspective, 77.4% of Canadian exports by value were delivered to its old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, United States and Mexico. Asian importers purchased 11.5% worth followed by buyers in Europe at 8.5%. Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean consumed 1.3% of Canada’s total exports while just 0.7% of Canadian shipments were destined for Africa.
Given Canada’s population of 35.6 million people, its total $420.6 billion in 2017 exports translates to roughly $11,800 for every resident in that country.
Canada’s unemployment rate was 5.6% as of November 2018 — an improvement from the 5.8% jobless rate as reported by Trading Economics 12 months earlier.
Canada’s Top 10 Exports
Top 10
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Canadian global shipments during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Canada.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$84.6 billion (20.1% of total exports)
- Vehicles: $62.3 billion (14.8%)
- Machinery including computers: $32.4 billion (7.7%)
- Gems, precious metals: $18.6 billion (4.4%)
- Wood: $14.1 billion (3.3%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $13 billion (3.1%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $12.6 billion (3%)
- Aluminum: $9.8 billion (2.3%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $9.7 billion (2.3%)
- Oil seeds: $7.9 billion (1.9%)
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of Canada’s Most Valuable Export Products further down near the bottom of this article.
Canada’s top 10 exports accounted for nearly two-thirds (63%) of the overall value of Canadian global shipments.
Mineral fuels including oil was the fastest-grower among Canada’s top 10 export categories, up 35.8% from 2016 to 2017 propelled by improved sales of both crude and refined petroleum oils as well as petroleum gas.
In second place for improving export sales was aluminum which gained 21.4%.
The oil seeds category posted the third-fastest gain up 9.5% year over year.
Two top categories retreated, namely vehicles (down -3.1%) and aircraft or spacecraft (down -5.8%).
Advantages
The following types of Canadian product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$54.9 billion (Up by 48.5% since 2016)
- Wood: $11.1 billion (Up by 8.2%)
- Gems, precious metals: $8.8 billion (Up by 24.1%)
- Oil seeds: $6.9 billion (Up by 9.5%)
- Woodpulp: $6 billion (Up by 10.5%)
- Aluminum: $5.9 billion (Up by 31.7%)
- Cereals: $5.6 billion (Up by 12.9%)
- Ores, slag, ash: $3.8 billion (Up by 10.3%)
- Fertilizers: $3.3 billion (Up by 5.3%)
- Meat: $3 billion (Up by 11.7%)
Canada has highly positive net exports in the international trade of crude oil and petroleum gases. The positive cashflows indicate Canada’s strong competitive advantages in raw resources segments of the energy market.
Opportunities
Overall Canada incurred a -$11.8 billion trade deficit for 2017, down by -15.3% from the -$13.9 billion in red ink one year earlier.
As of June 2018, Canada’s trade deficit stood at -$6.5 billion up 287.4% compared to the first 6 months of 2017.
Below are exports from Canada that are negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country Canada’s goods trail Canadian importer spending on foreign products.
- Machinery including computers: -US$30.9 billion (Down by -2.9% since 2016)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -$29.8 billion (Up by 10.4%)
- Vehicles: -$12 billion (Up by 273.9%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$5.6 billion (Down by -2.5%)
- Pharmaceuticals: -$5.4 billion (Up by 79.3%)
- Articles of iron or steel: -$4.8 billion (Up by 20.0%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$4.4 billion (Up by 7.5%)
- Fruits, nuts: -$4.1 billion (Up by 3.9%)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: -$4.0 billion (Up by 5.7%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$3.6 billion (Up by 1.4%)
Canada has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits for computer data processing machines spanning myriad types and sizes. The machinery including computer category also includes bulldozers and similar heavy construction equipment.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Canada’s competitive disadvantages in the international machinery market including computer-related goods, but also represent key opportunities for Canada to improve its position in the global economy through targeted innovations.
Companies
Canadian Export Companies
Wikipedia lists many of the larger international trade players from Canada:
- Barrick Gold (diversified metals, mining)
- Bombardier Inc. (aerospace, transit vehicles)
- Cameco (uranium)
- Canadian Natural Resources (oil, gas)
- Encana (oil, gas)
- Magna International (automotive parts)
- Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (specialized chemicals)
- Saputo (dairy products)
- Suncor Energy (oil, gas)
According to global trade intelligence firm Zepol, the following smaller companies are also examples of leading Canadian exporters:
- Interex Forest Products (wood, strand board)
- West Fraser Mills (wood, chemical woodpulp)
- Weyerhaeuser (wood, chemical woodpulp)
Searchable List of Canada’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, Canada’s top export products are crude oil followed by cars then gold.
The following searchable table displays 200 of the most in-demand goods shipped from Canada during 2017. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2016.
| Rank | Canadian Export Product | 2017 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crude oil | $54.1 billion | +36.8% |
| 2 | Cars | $46.5 billion | -4.7% |
| 3 | Gold (unwrought) | $13.2 billion | +6.1% |
| 4 | Processed petroleum oils | $11.3 billion | +39.2% |
| 5 | Automobile parts/accessories | $10.5 billion | -0.8% |
| 6 | Petroleum gases | $10.3 billion | +32.1% |
| 7 | Sawn wood | $8.3 billion | +7.1% |
| 8 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $6.3 billion | +25.7% |
| 9 | Turbo-jets | $5.9 billion | +13.3% |
| 10 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $5.8 billion | -5.9% |
| 11 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $5.2 billion | +54% |
| 12 | Medication mixes in dosage | $5.1 billion | -30.1% |
| 13 | Wheat | $5.1 billion | +12.6% |
| 14 | Rape/colza seeds | $5.1 billion | +18.1% |
| 15 | Chemical woodpulp (non-dissolving) | $4.4 billion | +9.3% |
| 16 | Ethylene polymers | $4 billion | -3.9% |
| 17 | Potassic fertilizers | $3.9 billion | +10.6% |
| 18 | Iron ores, concentrates | $3.5 billion | +21.8% |
| 19 | Aircraft parts | $3.1 billion | -5.5% |
| 20 | Miscellaneous furniture | $2.8 billion | +2.3% |
| 21 | Crustaceans (including lobsters) | $2.8 billion | +16.2% |
| 22 | Copper ores, concentrates | $2.8 billion | +1.7% |
| 23 | Dried shelled vegetables | $2.7 billion | -14.6% |
| 24 | Rape/colza/mustard oil | $2.6 billion | +11.9% |
| 25 | Swine meat | $2.5 billion | +5.8% |
| 26 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $2.4 billion | +9.2% |
| 27 | Electrical energy | $2.3 billion | +6.8% |
| 28 | Piston engines | $2.3 billion | -11.1% |
| 29 | Trucks | $2.3 billion | +15% |
| 30 | Soya beans | $1.9 billion | +1.3% |
| 31 | Phone system devices | $1.9 billion | -7.4% |
| 32 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $1.9 billion | +14.6% |
| 33 | Particle board, other ligneous materials | $1.8 billion | +14.2% |
| 34 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $1.8 billion | +0.6% |
| 35 | Machinery parts | $1.7 billion | +14.6% |
| 36 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $1.7 billion | -3.2% |
| 37 | New pneumatic rubber tires | $1.7 billion | -2.2% |
| 38 | Newsprint (rolls or sheets) | $1.5 billion | -8.1% |
| 39 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $1.5 billion | +11.5% |
| 40 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $1.5 billion | +0.7% |
| 41 | Computers, optical readers | $1.5 billion | +9.8% |
| 42 | Iron or steel scrap | $1.5 billion | +56.2% |
| 43 | Nickel (unwrought) | $1.4 billion | -3.7% |
| 44 | Refined copper, unwrought alloys | $1.4 billion | +29.5% |
| 45 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $1.4 billion | +7.5% |
| 46 | Zinc (unwrought) | $1.3 billion | +16.3% |
| 47 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $1.3 billion | +3.5% |
| 48 | Miscellaneous machinery | $1.3 billion | +19.9% |
| 49 | Fresh or chilled beef | $1.3 billion | +7.8% |
| 50 | Acyclic alcohols | $1.3 billion | +24.5% |
| 51 | Uncoated paper for writing/printing | $1.3 billion | -3.6% |
| 52 | Moulding boxes/bases/patterns | $1.3 billion | +18% |
| 53 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $1.2 billion | +15.6% |
| 54 | Radioactive chemical elements | $1.2 billion | -19.8% |
| 55 | Wood carpentry, builders' joinery | $1.2 billion | +4.8% |
| 56 | Miscellaneous oil cakes | $1.2 billion | +3.4% |
| 57 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $1.1 billion | +0.6% |
| 58 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $1.1 billion | +3.2% |
| 59 | Other measuring/testing machines | $1.1 billion | +15.8% |
| 60 | Silver (unwrought) | $1.1 billion | -33.3% |
| 61 | Semi-chemical woodpulp | $1.1 billion | +27.3% |
| 62 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $1.1 billion | +3.9% |
| 63 | Piston engine parts | $1.1 billion | -0.5% |
| 64 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $1.1 billion | +7.4% |
| 65 | Nickel matte, oxide sinters | $1 billion | -21.2% |
| 66 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $1 billion | +0.8% |
| 67 | Other prepared/preserved vegetables (frozen) | $1 billion | +7.8% |
| 68 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $995.5 million | +9.6% |
| 69 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $994.6 million | +20.7% |
| 70 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $992.1 million | +9.8% |
| 71 | Other food preparations | $990.8 million | +12.9% |
| 72 | Miscellaneous iron or steel tubes, pipes | $984.9 million | +25.6% |
| 73 | Lifting/loading machinery | $982 million | +12.6% |
| 74 | Electrical converters/power units | $944 million | +4.4% |
| 75 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $943.2 million | -3.3% |
| 76 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $925.2 million | +4.4% |
| 77 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $917.5 million | -2.7% |
| 78 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $891 million | +4.2% |
| 79 | Live bovine cattle | $883 million | -19.1% |
| 80 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $861.5 million | +10.1% |
| 81 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $860.2 million | +4.9% |
| 82 | Petroleum oil residues | $848.6 million | +43.3% |
| 83 | Temperature-change machines | $843.4 million | +4.7% |
| 84 | Precious metal waste, scrap | $831.4 million | +18.1% |
| 85 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $815.5 million | +22.7% |
| 86 | Insulated wire/cable | $811.3 million | +13.2% |
| 87 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $800.3 million | +44.8% |
| 88 | Whole fish (fresh) | $798.2 million | -6% |
| 89 | Copper wire | $787.7 million | +21.2% |
| 90 | Fork-lift trucks | $787 million | +31% |
| 91 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $777.8 million | +19.6% |
| 92 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $756.6 million | +6.9% |
| 93 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $743.7 million | +6.1% |
| 94 | Regulate/control instruments | $742.6 million | +11.8% |
| 95 | Copper waste, scrap | $740.5 million | +63.9% |
| 96 | Electrical machinery | $722.2 million | -6.6% |
| 97 | Rough wood | $719.3 million | +5.9% |
| 98 | Aircraft launch gear, ground fly trainer | $715.4 million | -4% |
| 99 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $684.1 million | +5.8% |
| 100 | Armored vehicles, tanks | $660.3 million | +25.5% |
| 101 | Public-transport vehicles | $654.7 million | +17.5% |
| 102 | Uncoated kraft paper | $652.4 million | +11.7% |
| 103 | Structures including bridges | $642.2 million | +16.6% |
| 104 | Coffee | $617.8 million | +11.6% |
| 105 | Lead (unwrought) | $612.9 million | +13.8% |
| 106 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $607.1 million | +10% |
| 107 | Uncoated paper | $589.7 million | +32.2% |
| 108 | Sanitary towels, baby napkins/liners | $587.2 million | -10.8% |
| 109 | Air or vacuum pumps | $574.9 million | +20% |
| 110 | Coated paper | $565.1 million | -5.9% |
| 111 | Miscellaneous fresh/chilled vegetables | $557.7 million | +1.7% |
| 112 | Vulcanized soft rubber items | $554.9 million | -3.4% |
| 113 | Computer parts, accessories | $551.9 million | -13.2% |
| 114 | Miscellaneous engines, motors | $550.4 million | +31.6% |
| 115 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $541.5 million | +4.6% |
| 116 | Plastic builders' items | $538.8 million | +5% |
| 117 | Sugar confectionery (no cocoa) | $528.2 million | +1.2% |
| 118 | Diagnostic/laboratory reagents | $528 million | +14.8% |
| 119 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $519.1 million | +7.5% |
| 120 | Radar, radio communication items | $518.1 million | +4% |
| 121 | Nitrogenous fertilizers | $516.2 million | -16.9% |
| 122 | Tissues, napkins, toilet paper | $511.3 million | -3.8% |
| 123 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $500.9 million | -3.4% |
| 124 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $498.4 million | -0.3% |
| 125 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $496.4 million | +10.7% |
| 126 | Cellulose fiber paper | $493.3 million | +7.5% |
| 127 | Aluminum wire | $488.2 million | +16.2% |
| 128 | Ammonia | $478 million | -25.4% |
| 129 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $475 million | +8.5% |
| 130 | Flour/meal/starch/malt extract food preparations | $472.9 million | -8.4% |
| 131 | Air conditioners | $471.3 million | -2.1% |
| 132 | Agricultural/horticultural machinery | $466.9 million | +0.3% |
| 133 | Trailers | $463.1 million | +8.9% |
| 134 | Aluminum bars/rods | $459.5 million | +34.6% |
| 135 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $452.5 million | +22.9% |
| 136 | Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools | $445.2 million | +23.9% |
| 137 | Hydraulic cements | $444.7 million | +20.6% |
| 138 | Survey/hydro/weather instruments | $444.1 million | +4.6% |
| 139 | Screws, bolts, nuts, hooks, pins | $441.8 million | +8.9% |
| 140 | Miscellaneous preserved fruits | $439.4 million | +9.7% |
| 141 | Cobalt | $436.8 million | +92.9% |
| 142 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $432.6 million | +22% |
| 143 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $427.6 million | +1.4% |
| 144 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $425.7 million | -4.1% |
| 145 | Metal-containing ash, residues | $424.4 million | +12.9% |
| 146 | Alloy steel bars, rods | $424 million | +26.1% |
| 147 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $423.7 million | +2.4% |
| 148 | Red meat offal | $422 million | +11.9% |
| 149 | Harvest/threshing machinery | $420.6 million | +6.6% |
| 150 | Fresh/chilled tomatoes | $414.7 million | +11.2% |
| 151 | Printed matter including photos | $411.1 million | -4.7% |
| 152 | Barley | $408 million | +39.1% |
| 153 | Chemical woodpulp (dissolving) | $398.9 million | +10.3% |
| 154 | Tractors | $398.4 million | +9.6% |
| 155 | Printing machinery | $396.2 million | -5.2% |
| 156 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $393.5 million | +16.2% |
| 157 | Solid-form sugars, fructose, glucose, lactose | $386.4 million | -2.4% |
| 158 | Fuel wood, wood chips, sawdust | $382.6 million | -5% |
| 159 | Crustaceans, molluscs (preserved/prepared) | $381.6 million | -12.4% |
| 160 | Malt | $373.8 million | +3.2% |
| 161 | Soil cultivation machinery | $364.1 million | +29.1% |
| 162 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $363.6 million | +1.2% |
| 163 | Live swine | $358.6 million | +8.7% |
| 164 | Laminated wood including plywood | $358.1 million | +9.3% |
| 165 | Peat | $357 million | +3.8% |
| 166 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $356.6 million | +4.4% |
| 167 | Hair preparations | $353.8 million | +1.8% |
| 168 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $353.2 million | -0.5% |
| 169 | Moluscs | $351.3 million | +7% |
| 170 | Paper/paperboard waste, scrap | $348.5 million | +15.8% |
| 171 | Prepared/preserved meat | $348.2 million | +7.4% |
| 172 | Miscellaneous wooden articles | $343.1 million | -3.7% |
| 173 | Electric motors, generators | $341.9 million | +4.1% |
| 174 | Refrigerators, freezers | $340.9 million | +14% |
| 175 | Ball, roller bearings | $340.6 million | +5.1% |
| 176 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $339.9 million | +9.2% |
| 177 | Frozen beef | $337.1 million | +15.5% |
| 178 | Iron ferroalloys | $336.2 million | +7.5% |
| 179 | Fish fillets, pieces | $336.1 million | +1.8% |
| 180 | Oats | $330.4 million | -8.1% |
| 181 | Automobile bodies | $329.4 million | -2.5% |
| 182 | Metal soldering/hot-spray equipment | $326.5 million | +61.2% |
| 183 | Monofilament | $324.2 million | +18.4% |
| 184 | Chlorates, bromates, iodates | $319 million | -3.4% |
| 185 | Navigational instruments like compasses | $317.3 million | -12.7% |
| 186 | Physical exercise equipment | $316.3 million | -3.2% |
| 187 | Soap, organics surface-active items | $315.9 million | -2.8% |
| 188 | Whole fish (frozen) | $315 million | -0.9% |
| 189 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $314 million | -8.3% |
| 190 | Fiberboard | $313.5 million | +3.5% |
| 191 | Corn | $310.7 million | -6.9% |
| 192 | Machine tool parts, accessories | $308.3 million | -0.065 |
| 193 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $298.2 million | +2.4% |
| 194 | Sauces, preparations, condiments | $297 million | +6.8% |
| 195 | Veneer sheets, sheets for sawn wood | $295.3 million | +9.2% |
| 196 | Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters | $294.8 million | -0.9% |
| 197 | Miscellaneous raw furskins | $286 million | -21.6% |
| 198 | Concrete/artificial stone items | $283.7 million | +3.2% |
| 199 | Special purpose vehicles | $282.4 million | +18.7% |
| 200 | Unvulcanized compounded rubber | $281.4 million | +12% |
These 200 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$355.8 billion or 84.6% by value for all products exported from Canada during 2017.
See also Canada’s Top 10 Imports, Canada’s Top Trading Partners, Top Canadian Trade Balances, Canada’s Top 10 Major Export Companies and Canada’s Exported Services
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on July 30, 2018
The World Factbook, Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on December 31, 2018
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Canada. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on October 21, 2015
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