Annual international trade in services, 2023
Released: 2024-11-12
Canada's exports and imports of services both increased in 2023, led by the growth in international travel. Exports of services totalled $208.5 billion in 2023, a 13.3% gain from 2022, while imports of services into Canada reached $205.9 billion (+8.9%).
Chart 1
International trade in services
Consequently, Canada's balance on international transactions in services posted a surplus of $2.6 billion in 2023 as exports of services exceeded imports for the first time.
Share of exports of services to the United States decreases
In 2023, Canada's exports of services to the United States increased 7.2% to $107.2 billion, while imports of services from the United States advanced 8.7% to $121.0 billion. Exports of services to all other countries rose 20.6% to $101.3 billion, while imports from these countries increased 9.3% to $84.9 billion in 2023.
The United States remained Canada's largest services trading partner in 2023, accounting for 51.4% of total exports of services and 58.8% of total imports of services. This compares with 54.3% of total exports and 58.9% of total imports in 2022.
Chart 2
Services balances
International travel services increase significantly
Overall, Canada's travel services exports reached a record-high level of $61.3 billion in 2023, an increase of 47.4% compared with 2022. Education-related travel services rose as international students' expenditures reached $32.1 billion in 2023. Tourism-related travel services exports grew substantially as well, up 57.4% to $20.6 billion. Business travel services exports increased 39.3% as the contribution coming from temporary foreign workers' expenditures rose significantly in the year.
Imports of travel services increased 42.3% in 2023, reaching a record-high level of $53.0 billion, because of higher spending by Canadian resident travellers in both the United States and other destinations.
Commercial services exports and imports post modest gains
Commercial services exports (+1.9%) and imports (+0.9%) posted modest gains in 2023. This followed larger increases through 2021 and 2022 led by rapid digital transformation in many industries in Canada and worldwide. Maintenance and repair, financial services and management services led export gains in 2023 while higher imports of management services, maintenance and repair, and advertising services offset a decrease in financial services (-13.2%).
Transportation services exports rise while imports are stable
Meanwhile, transportation services exports increased 11.4% to a record high $22.7 billion in 2023. Air transport (+$2.5 billion), specifically air passenger fares, was the main contributor to the increase. Transportation services imports (+0.2%) were relatively stable at $34.5 billion, as higher payments of air passenger fares were offset by declines in marine transportation services imported from countries other than the United States, notably from China and Hong Kong.
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Note to readers
This is the annual release of Canada's detailed international transactions in services. This release contains details by country and service category for international transactions in services. Trade in services covers transactions in travel services, transportation services, a range of business and professional services (referred to as commercial services), and government services.
The results for the 2023 reference year are preliminary and were derived from a combination of the latest 2022 benchmark surveys and 2023 quarterly surveys.
Revisions and coverage
Generally, revisions reflect the integration of the most recent information from surveys and administrative data sources. A new article, entitled ''Revisions to 2022 and 2023 exports of travel services'' and published in the Latest Developments in the Canadian Economic Accounts series, presents revisions to 2022 and 2023 exports of travel services, focusing mainly on integrating new estimates of the expenditures of temporary foreign workers in Canada.
Products
The Methodological Guide: Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (13-607-X) is available.
The User Guide: Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (13-606-G) is also available. This publication will be updated to maintain its relevance.
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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