Canadian international merchandise trade, April 2015

Released: 2015-06-03

Canada's imports declined 2.5% in April and exports were down 0.7%. Import volumes fell 1.8% and prices were down 0.8%. Meanwhile, export volumes increased 0.5% while prices declined 1.2%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world narrowed from $3.9 billion in March to $3.0 billion in April.

Chart 1 
Merchandise exports and imports

Imports from China and the United States decrease

Imports from countries other than the United States were down 5.3% to $15.5 billion, mainly on lower imports from China (-$869 million). Imports from the United States fell 1.0% to $29.4 billion in April.

Exports to countries other than the United States declined 7.2% to $10.1 billion. There were lower exports to Japan (-$173 million) and Switzerland (-$130 million). Exports to the United States increased 1.6% to $31.8 billion.

As a result, Canada's trade deficit with countries other than the United States narrowed slightly in April. Canada's trade surplus with the United States widened from $1.6 billion in March to $2.4 billion in April.

Imports decline on lower volumes

Imports declined to $44.9 billion in April, as 7 of 11 sections decreased. Lower imports of consumer goods as well as metal and non-metallic mineral products were partially offset by increases in motor vehicles and parts as well as energy products. Year over year, imports were up 4.1%.

Imports of consumer goods fell 6.2% to $9.4 billion on lower volumes. There were widespread declines throughout the section, led by clothing, footwear and accessories (-15.6%) and miscellaneous goods and supplies (-5.8%).

Metal and non-metallic mineral products decreased 11.3% to $3.7 billion in April. Lower imports of unwrought precious metals and precious metal alloys, which declined 36.0% to $583 million, were the main contributor. Overall, volumes fell 7.6% and prices 4.1%.

Meanwhile, imports of motor vehicles and parts were up 2.7% to a record $8.2 billion. Higher imports of passenger cars and light trucks led the increase, rising 10.5% to $3.9 billion, also a record. This was partially offset by a decline in medium and heavy trucks, buses and other motor vehicles, down 11.9% to $828 million.

Imports of energy products rose 7.4% to $2.9 billion in April. Imports of crude oil and crude bitumen increased 22.4% to $1.6 billion, as prices rose 15.4% and volumes 6.1%.

Exports down in most sections

Exports declined to $41.9 billion in April. This was the seventh decline since July 2014, when exports reached a record $45.6 billion. In April, the decreases in consumer goods as well as forestry products and building and packaging materials were mostly offset by an increase in energy products. Excluding energy products, exports fell 2.0% in April compared with a 0.7% decline in total exports.

Exports of consumer goods decreased 6.0% to $5.0 billion, as volumes were down 6.2%. Lower exports of pharmaceutical and medicinal products were the main contributor, falling 28.0% to $578 million.

Exports of forestry products and building and packaging materials declined 5.0% to $3.2 billion in April. There were widespread decreases throughout the section, led by lumber and other sawmill and millwork products, down 8.2% to $1.1 billion. Overall, volumes declined 3.3% and prices 1.7%.

Mostly offsetting these decreases, exports of energy products increased 5.9% to $7.3 billion. Overall, volumes were up 8.3% while prices declined 2.2%. Exports of crude oil and crude bitumen rose 10.8% to $4.9 billion, primarily on the strength of volumes, while exports in most of the other commodity groupings within this section declined.

Revisions to March imports and exports

March's imports, originally reported as $45.5 billion in last month's release, were revised to $46.1 billion. Exports, originally reported as $42.5 billion for March, were revised to $42.2 billion. Revisions reflect initial estimates being updated or replaced with administrative and survey data as they became available, as well as corrections made for late documentation of high-value transactions.

Chart 2 
International merchandise trade balance

Customs based data are now available in the Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database (Catalogue number65F0013X). From the Browse by key resource module of our website, choose Publications.

The April 2015 issue of Canadian International Merchandise Trade, Vol. 69, no. 4 (Catalogue number65-001-X), is also available from the Browse by key resource module of our website under Publications.

Data on Canadian international merchandise trade for May will be released on July 7.

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Nita Boushey (613-404-4965; nita.boushey@statcan.gc.ca), International Accounts and Trade Division.