Energy statistics, June 2023
Released: 2023-09-11
22.1 million cubic metres
June 2023
-1.4% 
(12-month change)
10.1 million cubic metres
June 2023
7.4% 
(12-month change)
605.4 million gigajoules
June 2023
-0.3%
(12-month change)
46.0 million megawatt-hours
June 2023
-3.3%
(12-month change)
Following recent production disruptions attributable to an unprecedented number of forest fires, as well as planned maintenance work at several refineries and upgraders, energy production in June faced fewer external influences.
Nevertheless, primary energy production declined by 1.8% year over year to the lowest level since February 2022, while secondary energy production posted a 7.8% gain in June 2023.
Chart 1
Primary and secondary energy production in Canada
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Crude production and prices decline
Production of crude oil and equivalent products dropped 1.4% to 22.1 million cubic metres in June. This was the third consecutive month of year-over-year declines, as the turnaround period at some oil sands upgraders extended into June. The overall decrease was driven by synthetic crude production (-5.3%), while crude bitumen production (+2.6%) partially offset the decline.
The price of crude oil and bitumen fell 36.5% year over year in June to the lowest level since December 2021. This decrease was largely influenced by concerns about global economic growth.
Chart 2
Production of crude oil and equivalents
Production of finished motor gasoline climbs to series high, imports drop
Production of finished petroleum products rose 7.4% year over year in June. The increase was primarily related to finished motor gasoline, which rose 14.5% to the highest level since this series began in January 2019.
Similarly, consumption of finished petroleum products rose 4.9% in June 2023, largely attributable to an increase in demand for finished motor gasoline (+7.2%).
The June increases in production and consumption were the result of a variety of factors, including a rise in automobile travel combined with lower gas prices, compared with June 2022.
Imports of finished petroleum products fell 38.2% in June 2023. Imports of finished motor gasoline dropped 61.0%, because Canada imported significantly more gasoline in June 2022, compared with June 2023.
Chart 3
Production and consumption of finished motor gasoline in Canada
Natural gas production, exports edge lower
Production of marketable natural gas edged down 0.3% year over year to 605.4 million gigajoules in June. The decline was mostly related to lower levels in Alberta (-3.1%), where forest fires continued to affect production throughout June. Exports of natural gas to the United States declined by 1.0% to 252.0 million gigajoules, continuing the downward trend that began in January.
By contrast, total deliveries of natural gas to Canadian consumers increased by 8.0% in June, while closing inventories held in Canadian facilities were also up. Declining export demand and relatively high levels of production have resulted in more natural gas being put into storage in 2023.
Chart 4
Canadian natural gas production and exports
Drop in US exports coincides with decrease in Quebec hydroelectric generation
Total electricity generation in Canada declined by 3.3% year over year to 46.0 million megawatt-hours (MWh) in June. Hydroelectricity generation in Quebec was down 8.0% and was the largest contributor to the national decline in generation.
Exports of electricity to the United States fell 33.0% in June, mainly because of a 57.7% drop in exports from Quebec. The decline in exports from Quebec (-1.2 million MWh) closely matched the total decrease in the province's hydroelectric generation. US demand was down, caused partly by lower temperatures across the Eastern United States, compared with June 2022, according to the US National Centers for Energy Information.
Chart 5
Quebec hydroelectric generation and exports to the United States
Note to readers
The consolidated energy statistics table (25-10-0079-01) presents monthly data on primary and secondary energy by fuel type (crude oil, natural gas, electricity, coal, etc.) in terajoules, and supply and demand characteristics (production, exports, imports, etc.) for Canada. The table uses data from a variety of survey and administrative sources. Estimates are available starting with the January 2020 reference month. For more information, please consult the Consolidated Energy Statistics Table: User Guide.
The survey programs that support the "Energy statistics" release include:
- Crude oil and natural gas (survey number 2198; tables 25-10-0036-01, 25-10-0055-01 and 25-10-0063-01). Data for May 2023 have been revised. With the next release of Energy statistics (reference month July 2023), revisions will be made back to January 2016 to reflect newly available data provided by respondents.
- Energy transportation and storage (survey number 5300, tables 25-10-0075-01 and 25-10-0077-01).
- Natural gas transmission, storage and distribution (survey numbers 2149, 5210 and 5215; tables 25-10-0057-01, 25-10-0058-01 and 25-10-0059-01). Data for May 2023 have been revised. With the next release of Energy statistics (reference month July 2023), revisions will be made back to January 2016 to reflect newly available data provided by respondents.
- Refined petroleum products (survey number 2150, table 25-10-0081-01).
- Renewable fuel plant statistics (survey number 5294, table 25-10-0082-01).
- Electric power statistics (survey number 2151, tables 25-10-0015-01 and 25-10-0016-01).
- Coal and coke statistics (survey numbers 2147 and 2003, tables 25-10-0045-01 and 25-10-0046-01). Data for June 2022 and January to May 2023 have been revised.
Data are subject to revisions. Energy data and other supporting data used in the text are revised on an ongoing basis for each month of the current year to reflect new information provided by respondents and updates to administrative data. Historical revisions are also performed periodically.
Definitions, data sources and methods for each survey program are available under the respective survey number.
The Energy Statistics Program relies on data collected from respondents and administrative sources.
Data in this release are not seasonally adjusted.
Occasionally, data from Environment and Climate Change Canada are referenced by the Energy Statistics Program using Heating Degree Days (HDDs) as a measure of temperature. HDDs reflect the relationship between outdoor temperatures and the need to heat indoors to maintain room temperature. As temperatures outside fall, the number of HDDs increases.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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