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.

At the more granular four-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level, Canada’s most valuable exports are crude oil followed by cars, gold, refined petroleum oils, automotive parts or accessories, petroleum gas, sawn or chipped wood then aluminum and turbojets.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$84.6 billion (20.1% of total exports)
2. Vehicles: $62.3 billion (14.8%)
3. Machinery including computers: $32.4 billion (7.7%)
4. Gems, precious metals: $18.6 billion (4.4%)
5. Wood: $14.1 billion (3.3%)
6. Electrical machinery, equipment: $13 billion (3.1%)
7. Plastics, plastic articles: $12.6 billion (3%)
8. Aluminum: $9.8 billion (2.3%)
9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $9.7 billion (2.3%)
10. Oil seeds: $7.9 billion (1.9%)

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%).

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.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$54.9 billion (Up by 48.5% since 2016)
2. Wood: $11.1 billion (Up by 8.2%)
3. Gems, precious metals: $8.8 billion (Up by 24.1%)
4. Oil seeds: $6.9 billion (Up by 9.5%)
5. Woodpulp: $6 billion (Up by 10.5%)
6. Aluminum: $5.9 billion (Up by 31.7%)
7. Cereals: $5.6 billion (Up by 12.9%)
8. Ores, slag, ash: $3.8 billion (Up by 10.3%)
9. Fertilizers: $3.3 billion (Up by 5.3%)
10. 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.

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.

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.

1. Machinery including computers: -US$30.9 billion (Down by -2.9% since 2016)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: -$29.8 billion (Up by 10.4%)
3. Vehicles: -$12 billion (Up by 273.9%)
4. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$5.6 billion (Down by -2.5%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: -$5.4 billion (Up by 79.3%)
6. Articles of iron or steel: -$4.8 billion (Up by 20.0%)
7. Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$4.4 billion (Up by 7.5%)
8. Fruits, nuts: -$4.1 billion (Up by 3.9%)
9. Beverages, spirits, vinegar: -$4.0 billion (Up by 5.7%)
10. 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.

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)