Canadian international merchandise trade

View the most recent version.

Canada's merchandise exports grew 4.2% in September, while imports declined 0.3%. As a result, Canada's trade balance with the world went from a deficit of $487 million in August to a surplus of $1.2 billion in September. It was the first trade surplus since January 2011.

Exports and imports

Chart description: Exports and imports

Exports rose to $39.7 billion, the highest value since October 2008, as six of seven sectors posted gains in September. Prices, which rose 3.9%, were the main factor behind the increase. Volumes edged up 0.3%.

Imports decreased to $38.5 billion, as volumes fell 3.1% and prices increased 2.8%. The decline was led by lower imports of machinery and equipment as well as automotive products, as both sectors experienced a decline in volumes. Partly offsetting the decrease in imports were gains in two sectors: energy products, and industrial goods and materials. Prices rose in both sectors.

Exports to the United States increased 5.0% to $28.2 billion, the highest value since January 2011. Imports from the United States decreased 1.0% to $23.8 billion. As a result, Canada's trade surplus with the United States rose from $2.8 billion in August to $4.4 billion in September.

Exports to countries other than the United States rose 2.3% to $11.5 billion, the fifth consecutive monthly increase. Imports from countries other than the United States rose 0.7% to $14.7 billion. Consequently, the trade deficit with countries other than the United States fell from $3.3 billion in August to $3.1 billion in September, the lowest level so far this year.

Trade balance

Chart description: Trade balance

Energy sector leads gain in exports

Exports of energy products rose 11.3% to $9.6 billion in September, as prices increased 8.0%. Exports of petroleum and coal products rose 36.4% to $2.0 billion, the highest value since the peak in July 2008. This was mainly the result of a 23.3% increase in volumes, following the reopening of refineries after several months of shutdowns for maintenance and expansion. Crude petroleum also contributed to the gain, as prices increased 10.2%.

Exports of industrial goods and materials rose 3.4% to a record high of $10.5 billion in September. It was the fifth consecutive monthly increase. Gains in metal and alloys, and chemicals, plastics and fertilizers were largely responsible for the growth in the sector.

Exports of agricultural and fishing products increased 9.4% to $3.7 billion, the highest level since peaking in October 2008. Leading the sector was canola, which hit a record high of $444 million in September.

After four consecutive monthly increases, exports of machinery and equipment declined 4.9% to $7.0 billion in September. The decrease was mainly a result of aircraft and other transportation equipment, down 19.7%, as volumes fell 20.9%.

Lower volumes account for the decline in imports

Imports of machinery and equipment fell 3.3% to $10.2 billion in September, as three of the four sub-sectors reported declines. A 14.9% decline in aircraft and other transportation equipment contributed the most to the decrease, as volumes fell 15.2%.

Imports of automotive products decreased 5.5% to $5.9 billion in September, as volumes declined 6.3%. Passenger autos and chassis fell 10.9%, while trucks and other motor vehicles were down 9.0%.

Imports of energy products increased 5.7% to $4.3 billion, as prices rose 4.7%. Crude petroleum rose 9.9%, as some refineries resumed production following temporary shutdowns.

Imports of industrial goods and materials rose 2.6% to $8.6 billion. Metal and metal ores accounted for almost half of the gain, as imports of precious metals reached a record high of $1.4 billion in September.

Note: In general, merchandise trade data are revised on an ongoing basis for each month of the current year. Current year revisions are reflected in both the customs and balance of payments (BOP) based data. The previous year's customs data are revised with the release of the January and February reference months as well as on a quarterly basis. The previous two years of customs based data are revised annually and are released in February with the December reference month. The previous year's BOP based data are revised with the release of the January, February and March reference months. Revisions to BOP based data for the previous three years are released annually in June with the April reference month.

Factors influencing revisions include late receipt of import and export documentation, incorrect information on customs forms, replacement of estimates produced for the energy sector with actual figures, changes in classification of merchandise based on more current information, and changes to seasonal adjustment factors.

Revised data are available in the appropriate CANSIM tables.

Available on CANSIM: tables 228-0001 to 228-0003, 228-0033, 228-0034, 228-0041 to 228-0043 and 228-0047 to 228-0057.

The merchandise imports and exports data in the following tables are presented in dollar values.

Tables 228-0001 to 228-0003: Customs and balance of payments basis, by major groups and principal trading areas for all countries; monthly, quarterly and annual.

Table 228-0033: Imports, customs-based, by province of clearance, monthly.

Table 228-0034: Domestic exports, customs-based, by province of origin, monthly.

Tables 228-0041 to 228-0043: Customs and balance of payments basis, by sector and sub-sector, for all countries; monthly, quarterly and annual.

The merchandise imports and exports data in the following tables are indexes (2002=100).

Tables 228-0047 to 228-0049: Balance of payments and customs-based price and volume indexes for all countries; monthly, quarterly and annual.

Tables 228-0050 to 228-0052: Customs-based price indexes, Canada and United States trade, and Standard International Trade Classification (SITC revision 3) price indexes for all countries and United States; monthly, quarterly and annual.

Tables 228-0053 to 228-0055: Price and volume indexes customs and balance of payments basis, by sector and sub-sector, for all countries; monthly, quarterly and annual.

Tables 228-0056 and 228-0057: Balance of payments basis, by sector, seasonally adjusted, Fisher formula, chained 2002 dollars, for all countries; monthly and quarterly.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 2201, 2202 and 2203.

These data are available in the Canadian international merchandise trade database.

The September 2011 issue of Canadian International Merchandise Trade, Vol. 65, no. 9 (65-001-X, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

Current account data (which incorporate merchandise trade statistics, service transactions, investment income and transfers) are available quarterly in Canada's Balance of International Payments (67-001-X, free).

Data on Canadian international merchandise trade for October will be released on December 9.

For further information, contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (613-951-8116; toll-free 1-800-263-1136; infostats@statcan.gc.ca), Communications Division.

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Marc Nadeau (613-951-3692), International Trade Division.