Annual Mineral Production Survey, 2023
Released: 2025-02-26
Mineral production estimates from the Annual Mineral Production Survey are now available for the 2023 reference year. These data are published together with the 2024 preliminary estimates of mineral production in Canada.
In 2024, the value of shipments for metal recoverable, non-metals, as well as aggregates, clay and refractory minerals decreased by 5.8% to $54.7 billion compared to 2023. Overall, the value of shipments decreased by $3.4 billion in 2024.
This decrease was due to the reduction in the value of shipments of non-metallic minerals from $15.1 billion in 2023 to $11.3 billion in 2024. Particularly, the value of shipments of non-metallic mineral potash decreased by $3.3 billion.
The value of shipments for metal recoverable minerals increased by 1.1% to $38.4 billion in 2024 while aggregates, clay and refractory minerals increased by 1.1% to $5.0 billion.
Focus on Canada and the United States
The United States is Canada's top trading partner for metal ores and non-metallic minerals in terms of the trade value of exports and imports in 2024. The trade value of Canada's metal ores and non-metallic mineral exports to the United States was $6.4 billion while the trade value of imports was $4.3 billion. This represents positive net exports of $2.1 billion to the United States. Compared to 2023, the trade values of exports (-$739 million) and imports (-$314 million) were both down in 2024. Therefore, the net exports of metal ores and non-metallic minerals to the United States decreased by $425 million in 2024.
The United States represented 23.9% of Canada's metal ores and non-metallic mineral exports in 2024. This was followed by China (20.3%) and Japan (8.9%). Potash was the top mineral product exported to the United States, at $4.2 billion in 2024. This represented 65.2% of Canada's metal ores and non-metallic mineral exports to the United States. This was followed by diamonds and other non-metallic minerals (except cut gemstones), representing 13.1% of exports to the United States with a trade value of $844 million; and stone, sand, gravel, clay, and refractory minerals, representing 9.0% of exports to that country with a trade value of $582 million.
For more data and insights on areas touched by the socio-economic relationship between Canada and the United States, see the Focus on Canada and the United States webpage.
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Note to readers
Beginning with data collection for the 2019 reference year, the Annual Mineral Production Survey has been conducted as part of Statistics Canada's Integrated Business Statistics Program. This transition followed a full content review and redesign of the Minerals and Metals Production Statistics Program in the fall of 2018, in partnership with Natural Resources Canada.
The Annual Mineral Production Survey collects data on the mining industry in Canada. This survey estimates outputs and shipments of products, such as metallic and non-metallic minerals, as well as aggregates and refractory minerals. Table 16-10-0022-01 presents variables for over 75 products from the mining industry. The variables available in this table are the quantity produced, the quantity shipped, the closing inventories and the value of shipments. The data are published at the national, provincial and territorial levels.
Some products that were historically included in Natural Resources Canada's publication of mineral production estimates are now targeted by Statistics Canada through other surveys, and results are published separately. These products include the following:
- Data on aluminum, bismuth, cadmium, indium, selenium, sulphuric acid and tellurium can be found in the Monthly Survey of Smelters and Metal Refineries estimates, which are released in table 16-10-0019-01.
- Data on coal can be found in table 25-10-0046-01.
- Data on elemental sulphur can be found in table 25-10-0036-01, which provides data on natural gas liquids and sulphur products from processing plants.
Data for Quebec are collected by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
Data on stone, sand and gravel for Newfoundland and Labrador are collected by the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Data for the most recent reference year are subject to revision to consider updated information and late responses. Data for the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 reference years have been revised with this release.
Data from previous years can be found on the Mineral production page of the Natural Resources Canada website.
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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