Canadian international trade in services, July 2021

Released: 2021-09-02

Canada's monthly international trade in services deficit widened from $60 million in June to $301 million in July. Overall, imports of services increased 3.7% to $10.0 billion, and exports were up 1.2% to $9.7 billion.

To explore the most recent results of Canada's international trade in services in an interactive format, see the International trade monthly interactive dashboard.

Chart 1 
International trade in services

Imports of travel services rose 74.2% to $850 million in July, a fourth consecutive monthly increase. Exports of travel services increased 10.0% to $931 million. The July travel services growth for both imports and exports was mainly due to an increase in the number of cross-border travellers between Canada and the United States; more Canadian residents returned from their trips to the United States, and more US residents arrived in Canada during the month.

Since July 5, eligible fully vaccinated travellers arriving in or returning to Canada by air or by land have been exempt from certain quarantine and testing requirements. Despite recent increases, imports of travel services in July were still 81.4% below their pre-pandemic February 2020 level, and exports of travel services were 56.7% below their February 2020 level.

Imports of commercial services edged up 0.2% to $7.2 billion, and exports of commercial services were up 0.4% to $7.5 billion in July.

Chart 2 
International trade in services, imports

Chart 3 
International trade in services, exports

Chart 4 
International trade in services, balances

By comparison, total imports of goods increased 4.2% to $53.0 billion in July, while total exports of goods were up 0.6% to $53.7 billion, resulting in a goods surplus of $778 million. Combined, the trade balance for goods and services amounted to a $477 million surplus in July, a $2.0 billion decline from a surplus of $2.5 billion in June.

Chart 5 
International trade in goods and services, July 2021

The services trade deficit for June, first reported at $740 million, was revised down to $60 million with this month's release. Exports of services for June were revised up by $341 million, on upward revisions to commercial services. Imports of services were revised down by $338 million, on downward revisions to commercial services and travel services. The revisions reflected in this month's release are primarily due to the integration of quarterly benchmark data from the balance of payments for the second quarter of 2021, as well as revisions to data for the first quarter of 2021.

Products

The updated Canada and the World Statistics Hub (Catalogue number13-609-X) is available online. It illustrates the nature and extent of Canada's economic and financial relationship with the world using interactive charts and tables. This product provides easy access to information on trade, investment, employment and travel between Canada and a number of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, China, Japan, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.

The Methodological Guide: Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (Catalogue number13-607-X) is available.

The User Guide: Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (Catalogue number13-606-G) is also available. This publication will be updated to maintain its relevance.

Contact information

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

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Alec Forbes (613-668-6454; alec.forbes@canada.ca), International Accounts and Trade Division.