Canadian international merchandise trade

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Exports and imports dropped in December amid a global economic downturn with exports falling at a faster pace than imports. This resulted in a trade deficit of $458 million compared with a trade surplus of $1.2 billion in November. This was the first trade deficit since March 1976.

Chart 1

Exports dropped 9.7% to $35.3 billion, as both prices and volumes declined. This marked the largest month-over-month percentage decrease since October 1982. The declines were widespread across most sectors. Overall, exports have been trending downwards since July 2008.

Imports also declined, falling 5.7% to $35.8 billion. The decrease, reflecting mostly volume reductions, was largely attributable to machinery and equipment, automotive products, and industrial goods and materials.

Although exports and imports have been declining in recent months, trade in agricultural and fishing products as well as machinery and equipment has generally been on the rise throughout 2008.

Exports to the United States dropped 10.0% to $25.9 billion. The slump in exports, led by crude petroleum, outpaced an 8.4% fall in imports. As a result, Canada's trade balance with the United States fell from $4.6 billion in November to $3.8 billion in December, its lowest level since December 1998.

Canada's trade deficit with countries other than the United States grew to $4.2 billion in December from $3.4 billion in November, as exports declined 9.0% while imports fell 1.0%.

Energy products and industrial goods continue to lead the downturn in exports

Exports of energy products dropped 19.4% to $6.8 billion. This reflected slumping exports of crude petroleum which continued to decline, falling a further 29.1% to $2.8 billion, the lowest level since March 2006. The decrease in crude petroleum was mostly the result of a 25.0% drop in prices.

Exports of industrial goods and materials fell 17.1% to $7.4 billion, largely due to a drop in volume. The sector has been on a downward trend since July 2008. Fertilizer exports dropped 36.8%, erasing two consecutive months of increases. In addition, exports of aluminium (including alloys) decreased 26.7% in December, as demand from the automotive sector waned with cutbacks in production.

Agricultural and fishing products exports dropped 7.0% to $3.4 billion in December. The sector had been trending upward since June 2006. Decreases in exports of wheat, meat and meat preparations, and canola mostly accounted for the sector's decline following two monthly gains.

Chart 2

Broad-based contraction in imports

After three consecutive monthly increases, imports of machinery and equipment fell 5.7% to $10.6 billion, leading the decline in imports for December. This decrease was due to a combination of rising prices and falling volumes. Aircraft imports rose 26.7%, softening the sector's overall drop.

Imports of automotive products declined for the third consecutive month, dropping 9.8% to $5.2 billion as the industry continued to struggle with decreased sales. The latest decline is the result of a 10.6% fall in volume overshadowing a small rise in price. The main contributor was motor vehicle parts, which lost 17.0% as manufacturers continued to scale back production. Imports of passenger autos, on a downward trend since July, fell 6.8% to $1.8 billion.

Imports of industrial goods and materials fell 5.8% to $7.4 billion. This was the lowest level since April 2008, reflecting the decline in both price and volume. Leading the decrease was imports of chemicals and plastics, which dropped 11.9% as a result of lower motor vehicle production and construction activity. Mitigating the drop, iron and steel products rose 19.8%, largely due to increased imports of drilling pipes.

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

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

The December 2008 issue of Canadian International Merchandise Trade, Vol. 62, no. 12 (65-001-XWE, free) is now available from the Publications module of our website.

The publication includes tables by commodity and country on a customs basis. The publication format has changed from a bilingual format to separate English and French versions to comply with Treasury Board Common Look and Feel's Guidelines. Table numbers have been modified, for a concordance from the old to the new tables.

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-XWE, free).

For more information, contact Sharon Nevins (toll-free 1-800-294-5583; 613-951-9798). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Mychèle Gagnon (613-951-0994), International Trade Division.

Canadian international merchandise trade

Exports and imports dropped in December amid a global economic downturn with exports falling at a faster pace than imports. This resulted in a trade deficit of $458 million compared with a trade surplus of $1.2 billion in November. This was the first trade deficit since March 1976.

Chart 1

Exports dropped 9.7% to $35.3 billion, as both prices and volumes declined. This marked the largest month-over-month percentage decrease since October 1982. The declines were widespread across most sectors. Overall, exports have been trending downwards since July 2008.

Imports also declined, falling 5.7% to $35.8 billion. The decrease, reflecting mostly volume reductions, was largely attributable to machinery and equipment, automotive products, and industrial goods and materials.

Although exports and imports have been declining in recent months, trade in agricultural and fishing products as well as machinery and equipment has generally been on the rise throughout 2008.

Exports to the United States dropped 10.0% to $25.9 billion. The slump in exports, led by crude petroleum, outpaced an 8.4% fall in imports. As a result, Canada's trade balance with the United States fell from $4.6 billion in November to $3.8 billion in December, its lowest level since December 1998.

Canada's trade deficit with countries other than the United States grew to $4.2 billion in December from $3.4 billion in November, as exports declined 9.0% while imports fell 1.0%.

Energy products and industrial goods continue to lead the downturn in exports

Exports of energy products dropped 19.4% to $6.8 billion. This reflected slumping exports of crude petroleum which continued to decline, falling a further 29.1% to $2.8 billion, the lowest level since March 2006. The decrease in crude petroleum was mostly the result of a 25.0% drop in prices.

Exports of industrial goods and materials fell 17.1% to $7.4 billion, largely due to a drop in volume. The sector has been on a downward trend since July 2008. Fertilizer exports dropped 36.8%, erasing two consecutive months of increases. In addition, exports of aluminium (including alloys) decreased 26.7% in December, as demand from the automotive sector waned with cutbacks in production.

Agricultural and fishing products exports dropped 7.0% to $3.4 billion in December. The sector had been trending upward since June 2006. Decreases in exports of wheat, meat and meat preparations, and canola mostly accounted for the sector's decline following two monthly gains.

Chart 2

Broad-based contraction in imports

After three consecutive monthly increases, imports of machinery and equipment fell 5.7% to $10.6 billion, leading the decline in imports for December. This decrease was due to a combination of rising prices and falling volumes. Aircraft imports rose 26.7%, softening the sector's overall drop.

Imports of automotive products declined for the third consecutive month, dropping 9.8% to $5.2 billion as the industry continued to struggle with decreased sales. The latest decline is the result of a 10.6% fall in volume overshadowing a small rise in price. The main contributor was motor vehicle parts, which lost 17.0% as manufacturers continued to scale back production. Imports of passenger autos, on a downward trend since July, fell 6.8% to $1.8 billion.

Imports of industrial goods and materials fell 5.8% to $7.4 billion. This was the lowest level since April 2008, reflecting the decline in both price and volume. Leading the decrease was imports of chemicals and plastics, which dropped 11.9% as a result of lower motor vehicle production and construction activity. Mitigating the drop, iron and steel products rose 19.8%, largely due to increased imports of drilling pipes.

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

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

The December 2008 issue of Canadian International Merchandise Trade, Vol. 62, no. 12 (65-001-XWE, free) is now available from the Publications module of our website.

The publication includes tables by commodity and country on a customs basis. The publication format has changed from a bilingual format to separate English and French versions to comply with Treasury Board Common Look and Feel's Guidelines. Table numbers have been modified, for a concordance from the old to the new tables.

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-XWE, free).

For more information, contact Sharon Nevins (toll-free 1-800-294-5583; 613-951-9798). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Mychèle Gagnon (613-951-0994), International Trade Division.