Canadian international merchandise trade

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Canada's merchandise exports rose 4.5% and imports edged up 0.8%. As a result, Canada's trade surplus rose from $1.2 billion in November to $2.7 billion in December.

Exports and imports

Chart description: Exports and imports

Exports grew to $42.0 billion in December as volumes increased 4.9%. The value of exports increased in all sectors, led by machinery and equipment. Exports have been trending upwards since July 2011.

Imports increased to $39.3 billion as volumes rose 1.2%. The increase in the value of imports was mainly a result of industrial goods and materials as well as automotive products.

Exports to the United States rose 5.3% to $30.2 billion on higher exports of crude petroleum, aircraft and precious metals. Imports increased 2.8% to $24.7 billion. Both exports and imports posted their highest levels since October 2008. Canada's trade surplus with the United States grew from $4.7 billion in November to $5.5 billion in December.

Exports to countries other than the United States increased 2.5% to a record high of $11.8 billion. Imports from countries other than the United States declined 2.6% to $14.7 billion, a result of lower imports from the European Union. Consequently, Canada's trade deficit with countries other than the United States narrowed from $3.5 billion in November to $2.9 billion in December, the smallest deficit since December 2010.

Increased exports in all sectors

Exports of machinery and equipment grew 9.2% to $7.5 billion in December as volumes rose 9.8%. This was the highest level of exports since March 2009. Exports of aircraft, engines and parts, up 25.5% to $1.3 billion, led the gain. Also contributing to the sector's increase were higher exports of other end products, mainly gold coins.

Exports of industrial goods and materials increased 3.8% to $10.5 billion in December. The gain was a result of higher volumes. Precious metals and alloys, other fabricated materials, as well as iron ores, concentrates and scrap led the gain in export values.

Exports of automotive products rose 6.7% to $5.8 billion in December, the highest level since November 2007. Passenger autos and chassis led the overall increase, posting a fourth consecutive monthly gain as a result of higher volumes.

Exports of energy products increased 1.7% to $10.3 billion, as prices rose while volumes fell. Crude petroleum reached a record high of $6.9 billion. A decline in exports of natural gas partially offset the overall gains in energy products.

Agricultural and fishing products grew 3.8% to a record high of $3.8 billion in December. Exports of canola led the increase.

Widespread gains in imports

Imports of industrial goods and materials grew 2.6% to $8.6 billion in December as prices increased. Metals and metal ores contributed the most to the gain, rising 4.0% on higher imports of precious metals and alloys, primarily gold. Chemicals and plastics increased 3.1% because of higher volumes.

Imports of automotive products rose 3.6% to $6.0 billion because of higher volumes. Motor vehicle parts, up 5.8%, led the increase. Imports of trucks and other motor vehicles grew 10.3% mostly because of higher imports of trucks and off-highway dump trucks.

Imports of machinery and equipment increased 1.3% to $10.9 billion in December. Industrial and agricultural machinery, up 4.5%, contributed the most to the sector's gain. Imports of aircraft and other transportation equipment were down 8.3%.

Energy products fell 7.5% to $4.3 billion, the only sector to decrease in December. Volumes declined 8.1%, a second consecutive monthly decrease. Lower imports of crude petroleum led the decline, followed by petroleum and coal products.

Trade balance

Chart description: Trade balance

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 without charge in 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 December 2011 issue of Canadian International Merchandise Trade, Vol. 65, no. 12 (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 January will be released on March 9.

The 2011 annual review for Canadian international merchandise trade will be released on April 4.

For more information, contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 613-951-8116; 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.