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Canadian exports and imports

By industry
By country
Export orientation
Import penetration

By industry

Canada's exports of processed food products exceed imports by about 30%. In 2003, Canada exported $16.8 billion worth of processed food products and imported $12.6 billion.

The food processing industry accounts for about 4% of Canada's merchandise trade essentially the same as it was in 1995. Canada has always been a major food exporter. Canada's export orientation for processed food products (Canadian dollar value of exports/Canadian dollar value of production) rose from 14% of annual production in 1990 to 26% of production ($12.6 billion) in 2001.

Meat products were Canada's single largest food industry export prior to May 20, 2003 and the discovery of BSE or mad cow disease. Canadians exported meat worth $5.2 billion in 2002 which represented 31% of the value of all processed food product exports for an increase of 135% or $3 billion since 1995.

The Canadian beef market has suffered from the nearly four-month embargo, imposed between late May and early September 2003. However, with the exception of Japan, most of the major Canadian meat export markets were reopened by November 2003, and monthly meat exports have begun to return to the levels they were at prior to May 2003.

Seafood was the second largest food export product at $3.3 billion in 2002. Seafood represents 20% of all processed food exports and recorded a 57% ($1.2 billion) increase between 1995 and 2002.

“Other food products,” although only seventh in terms of food exports, experienced one of the biggest export increases of 184% between 1995 and 2002 or $823 million. Other food products include salty snacks, peanut butter, coffee and tea, flavourings, seasonings and dressings, salads, fresh pizza and fresh pasta. Fruit and vegetable product exports increased by 176% ($1,045 million) followed by bakery and tortilla products, 157% ($701 million), and meat products, 135% ($3 billion).

The largest import product increases in value terms were for beverages which more than doubled to $2 billion in annual imports, an increase of $1 billion between 1995 and 2002. Milled grain and oilseed products posted the second largest increase of $885 million, also almost double the value of the product imported since 1995.

In the case of meat products, export increases exceeded imports by 14 percentage points. In confectioneries, exports exceeded imports by 18 percentage points, in processed fruit and vegetables it was 17, and in bakery and tortilla products 9 percentage points.

Table 7. Value of exports, by food processing industry group, Canada, 1995 to 2002. Opens a new browser window. Table 7. Value of exports, by food processing industry group, Canada, 1995 to 2002
Table 8. Value of imports, by food processing industry group, Canada, 1995 to 2002. Opens a new browser window. Table 8. Value of imports, by food processing industry group, Canada, 1995 to 2002

By country

The United States, Japanese and Asian markets were the best export growth areas for the food industry between 1995 and 2002. The United States continues to be Canada's single largest export market, the destination for almost 75% of exports by the Canadian food processing industry up from 60% in 1995 and 54% in 1990 at the signing of the Canada United States Trade Agreement (CUSTA).

In 2002, Canada exported $46 million worth of food products to the United States and imported $34 million each day. This accounted for 5% of the approximately $1.7 billion in merchandise that traded daily between Canada and the United States.

The trade in food products between Canada and its major trading partners range from an increasing trade surplus in processed food products with the United States, which purchased 75% of Canada's processed food exports in 2002 to a widening imbalance in favour of the European Union (EU).

Canada is experiencing continued growth in exports to Asia and achieving success in penetrating new Asian markets, such as China, where Canadian food exports have increased nearly 300% over the past 7 years, from $112 million in 1995 to $329 million in 2002. Japan continues to be Canada's second most important export market after the United States with food exports to Japan totalling $1.6 billion in 2002.

The growth in the middle class in developing countries is contributing to the growth in the demand for more value-added Canadian food products, particularly meat, bakery and dairy products. The higher value added products offer the greatest investment and employment opportunities, producing products such as: breakfast cereals, salty snacks, biscuits, frozen dinners, and salsa sauces.

Canadian food imports increased from $8.1 billion in 1995 to $12.6 billion in 2002, a 57% increase.

Imports of processed food products have grown steadily since 1995 extending a trend that began at the end of the 1990 to 1991 recession. The largest increases were in imports from the United States, which rose by $3.2 billion (67%) between 1995 and 2002.

The $3.2 billion increase in food imports from the United States was more than offset by the $7.4 billion increase in food exports by Canada to the United States, a whopping 21% average annual increase between 1995 and 2002.

Canada has also increased imports from Brazil by $201 million (79%) between 1995 and 2002, China $183 million (60%), Thailand $139 million (46%), and France $59 million (68%). With the exception of France, imports from the rest of the EU have remained largely unchanged since 1995 with respect to Canada's major European trading partners.

Table 9. Value of food manufacturing exports from Canada, by country of destination, 1995 to 2002. Opens a new browser window. Table 9. Value of food manufacturing exports from Canada, by country of destination, 1995 to 2002
Table 10. Value of Canada's food manufacturing imports, by country of origin, 1995 to 2002. Opens a new browser window. Table 10. Value of Canada's food manufacturing imports, by country of origin, 1995 to 2002

Export orientation

Canada has always been a major food exporter. Canada’s export orientation (Canadian value of exports/Canadian value of shipments) rose from 15% in 1990 to 26% in 2001. With the exception of seafood, which has always been highly export-oriented, all sectors of the Canadian food processing industry have increased their export orientation.

The largest export intensity increases have been in sugar and confectionery products, 18 percentage points; fruit and vegetable processing, 17 percentage points, meat processing 14; and bakery and tortilla processing 9 percentage points.

Table 11. Export orientation of processed food products, Canada, 1995 to 2001. Opens a new browser window. Table 11. Export orientation of processed food products, Canada, 1995 to 2001
Chart 1. Export orientation for the food sector and the entire manufacturing sector, Canada, 1992 to 2001 Chart 1. Export orientation for the food sector and the entire manufacturing sector, Canada, 1992 to 2001

Import penetration

Import penetration is measured by calculating the proportion of the domestic market that is supplied by imports or (value of imports(value of shipments − value of exports) + value of imports). As countries reduce trade barriers one expects Canadian industries to export more products and Canada to increase product imports. Trading partners export products that they can produce at a competitive or comparative advantage and tend to import those that their trading partners can produce less expensively, quality and other product characteristics being equal.

There is significant import penetration in the Canadian seafood market. Canada imported over 60% of its domestic seafood product needs in 2001. At the same time Canadian seafood processors exported 74% of Canadian production. Canada also imported 41% of its sugar and confectionary products, 31% of its processed fruit and vegetables, and 31% of its milled grain and oilseed products.

Table 12. Import penetration of processed food products, Canada, 1995 to 2001. Opens a new browser window. Table 12. Import penetration of processed food products, Canada, 1995 to 2001
Chart 2. Import orientation for the food manufacturing sector and the entire manufacturing sector, Canada, 1992 to 2001 Chart 2. Import orientation for the food manufacturing sector and the entire manufacturing sector, Canada, 1992 to 2001

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Date modified: 2004-07-30 Important Notices