Canada's Export Performance

Overall Results

• From January to October 2020, Canadian agri-food and seafood exports increased by 10%, reaching $61.0 billion compared to $55.5 billion for the same period in 2019.
• Top destinations for agri-food and seafood exports continue to be the US, with nearly 52.7% of exports; China at 12.5%; Japan at 6.9%; and the European Union (EU)^[1] at 5.4%. It is notable that the EU has shown a 42.7% value increase from the same period in 2019.
• Canada's agri-food and seafood imports reached $44.5 billion in the first 10 months of 2020, an increase of 2.2% compared to the same period last year.

Major Market Breakdowns

• Analysis of increased trade with the EU during the January to October time period this year over last reveals several trends in key sectors:
  • Canola seed accounts for a large part of the increase in exports to the EU, reaching a record $949 million for the first ten months of 2020, an increase of 183.3% from the same period in 2019.
  • Most of the canola seed increase is attributed to exports to France ($431.2 million / +278.9%), with large increases to Germany ($203.8 million / +124.4%) and the Netherlands ($182.1 million / with 0 in 2019).
  • Canada's exports of durum wheat to Italy increased by 75.7% compared to the same period in 2019, reaching $359.4 million (representing a record high for the period of January to October).

Top Sector Analysis

• A number of Canada's top agri-food exports experienced increases from January to October 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. However, fish and seafood continued to decline (by 12.4%), and exports of beef, frozen french fries, and live bovine (excluding bison) experienced marginal declines of 1.1%, 1.0% and 8.5%, respectively, in the first 10 months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
• Canola seed exports increased by 49.5% in the first ten months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, reaching $5.1 billion. Substantial increases were observed in China (+$430 million / +60%), France (+$278.9 million / +183.2%) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (+$235.2 million / +89.3%), with respective exports of $1.2 billion, $431.1 million and $499 million from January to October 2020. Other significant increases were observed in Japan (+$149 million / +16.6%), Mexico (+$129.3 million / +27.3%), Netherlands (+$182.1 million / +100%), and Germany (+$124.3 million / +156.3%).
• Durum wheat exports increased by 25.9% in the first ten months of 2020, reaching $1.6 billion. Leading destinations that account for the increase include Italy (+$154.8 million / +75.7%), Morocco (+$107.6 million / +48.2%), Japan (+$48.5 million / +113.6%), Nigeria (+$49.1 million / +361.7%), and Spain (+$30.7 million / +100%).
• Pork and pork product exports increased by 21.9% in the first 10 months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, reaching $4.2 billion. China leads all export destinations, reaching $1.4 billion (+$945 million / +191.9%). Japan was the second leading destination for Canadian pork and pork product exports, reaching $1.2 billion (+$36.1 million / +3.1%), and the US was the third largest market, reaching $1 billion (+$14.9 million / +3.1%). Although a smaller market, a notable increase occurred in exports to Vietnam of +$36.6 million / +317.1%, reaching $48.2 million in the first ten months of 2020.
• Exports of lentils increased significantly in the first 10 months of 2020, reaching $2 billion and showing an increase of +$968.3 million / 94.6% compared to the same period in 2019. India is now leading all Canadian exports of lentils with $687.6 million (+$374.5 million / +119.6%), a record high to that market for the January to October time period. Turkey followed with exports of $313.3 million (+$234.9 million / +300%). The UAE also increased significantly by +$79.7 million / 83.1% to reach $175.7 million during that same period.
• Month-over-month changes in 2020 show an increase of 16.8% in the month of October 2020 compared to September 2020, with notable increases registered in soya beans (excl seed) (+$337.7 million), canola seed (+$120 million) and durum wheat (excl seed) (+$102.7 million). Declines were noted in dried peas (-$97 million), live fresh lobster (-$36.6 million) and fresh peppers (-$28.7 million).

[1] EU includes: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.