Canadian international merchandise trade, April 2025
Released: 2025-06-05
In April, Canada's merchandise exports dropped 10.8%, while imports fell 3.5%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world widened from $2.3 billion in March to $7.1 billion in April. This was the largest deficit on record.
Due to the implementation of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) digital initiative, estimates were added to the reference months from November 2024 to April 2025. Please see the Note to readers below for more information.
Consult the "International trade monthly interactive dashboard" to explore the most recent results of Canada's international trade in an interactive format.
Chart 1
Merchandise exports and imports
The appreciation of the Canadian dollar and impacts on import and export values
A large proportion of import and export transactions are completed in US dollars and must be converted to Canadian dollars to compile monthly trade statistics. All other things being equal, when the Canadian dollar appreciates against the US dollar, monthly trade values expressed in Canadian dollars are lower.
In April, the average value of the Canadian dollar increased 1.8 cents US compared with March. This is the largest monthly increase since May 2021. When expressed in US dollars, Canadian exports decreased 8.4% in April, while imports were down 0.9%.
Significant, widespread decline in exports
Total exports dropped 10.8% to $60.4 billion in April, the lowest level since June 2023. This was a third consecutive monthly decline and the strongest percentage decrease in five years. After the United States implemented tariffs on Canadian goods in March, additional tariffs were imposed in early April, with a focus on motor vehicles manufactured in Canada. The high values for exports to the United States in late 2024 and early 2025—before the tariffs were imposed—gave way to decreases in more recent months, and especially in April. As was the case in March, total exports were down on lower exports to the United States (-15.7%) in April, while exports to countries other than the United States rose 2.9%. Overall, decreases were observed in 10 of the 11 product sections; only exports of metal ores and non-metallic minerals saw a modest increase. In real (or volume) terms, total exports were down 9.1% in April.
Chart 2
Contribution to the monthly change in exports, by product, April 2025
Exports of motor vehicles and parts (-17.4%) posted the largest decrease in April. This decline was almost entirely attributable to exports of passenger cars and light trucks, which fell 22.9% in April after rising 21.0% from November 2024 to March 2025. As observed with many products, amid threats by the United States to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, exports of passenger cars and light trucks saw high levels in the three months preceding April. After tariffs on foreign motor vehicles were imposed by the United States at the beginning of the month, manufacturers in Canada reduced production in April, resulting in a sharp drop in these exports.
Chart 3
Exports and imports of motor vehicles and parts
Exports of consumer goods fell 15.4% to $7.0 billion in April, the lowest value since December 2023. Decreases were observed in almost all product groups in April 2025, mostly due to lower exports to the United States. Exports of other food products (-15.7%) saw the largest decline. Products such as bread, chocolate and frozen foods were behind the decrease in exports in this product group. There were also significant declines in exports of other types of consumer goods to the United States in April, such as miscellaneous goods and supplies, pharmaceuticals and meat products.
Chart 4
Exports of consumer goods
Exports of energy products (-7.9%) posted a third consecutive monthly decline in April, led mainly by a decrease in crude oil exports (-11.7%). This decline was primarily due to lower crude oil export prices, which fell in April amid lower demand driven by economic uncertainty, as well as a planned increase in production by members of OPEC+ (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners). The volume of crude oil exported in April also decreased, coinciding with the temporary shutdown of a pipeline in the northern United States at the beginning of April following a rupture.
Other product sections posted notable declines in April, contributing to the overall drop in exports. They included industrial machinery, equipment and parts (-22.5%), metal and non-metallic mineral products (-8.8%), and forestry products and building and packaging materials (-18.5%). The declines in these product sections were largely the result of sharp decreases in shipments to the United States in April.
Sharp increase in gold imports moderates the decline in total imports
Total imports were down 3.5% in April. Strong declines were observed in imports of motor vehicles and parts (-17.7%), industrial machinery, equipment and parts (-9.5%), consumer goods (-4.2%) and electronic and electrical equipment and parts (-5.5%). These declines were partly offset by a strong increase in imports of unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals; excluding these imports, total imports were down 6.9%. In real (or volume) terms, total imports fell 2.9% in April.
Chart 5
Contribution to the monthly change in imports, by product, April 2025
Imports of motor vehicles and parts fell 17.7% in April, contributing the most to the overall decrease. After three consecutive monthly increases, leading to a record high in March, imports of passenger cars and light trucks (-21.2%) declined the most in April. As observed with exports of these products, imports of passenger cars and light trucks fell amid the implementation of tariffs by Canada in response to those imposed by the United States.
The decline in imports was partly moderated by a sharp increase in imports of metal and non-metallic mineral products (+48.8%), driven by imports of unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals, whose value increased almost tenfold to a record $2.7 billion in April. The vast majority of the unwrought gold imported in April originated in countries other than the United States—even if they were shipped from the United States—and were therefore not subject to tariffs.
Chart 6
Imports of unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals, and their alloys
Please see the Note to readers below for more information on the impacts of the CARM digital initiative on Canada's import statistics.
Merchandise trade with the United States falls sharply
Amid new tariffs imposed in April, exports to the United States dropped 15.7%, a third consecutive monthly decline. After posting consecutive strong monthly increases, with a peak in January 2025, exports to the United States have since fallen 26.2%. Meanwhile, imports from the United States were down 10.8% in April. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade surplus with the United States narrowed to $3.6 billion, the smallest surplus since December 2020.
Chart 7
Merchandise trade with the United States
Meanwhile, trade with countries other than the United States reaches an all-time high
Exports to countries other than the United States rose 2.9% in April. Exports to China (various products), the United Kingdom (unwrought gold), Algeria (iron ore and wheat) and Brazil (potash) increased the most. Meanwhile, imports from countries other than the United States increased 8.3% to a record $29.0 billion in April. Total merchandise trade (exports plus imports) with countries other than the United States stood at $47.3 billion in April, a record high. Canada's trade deficit with countries other than the United States increased from $9.0 billion in March to $10.7 billion in April.
Chart 8
Merchandise trade with countries other than the United States
Chart 9
International merchandise trade balance
Revisions to March merchandise export and import data
Imports in March, originally reported at $70.4 billion in the previous release, were revised to $70.0 billion in the current reference month's release. Exports in March, originally reported at $69.9 billion in the previous release, were revised to $67.8 billion in the current reference month's release, in part because estimates for crude oil were replaced with actual data.
Monthly trade in services
In April, monthly service exports were down 0.5% to $17.9 billion. Meanwhile, imports of services decreased 1.1% to $18.3 billion.
When international trade in goods and services are combined, exports dropped 8.6% to $78.4 billion in April, while imports decreased 3.0% to $85.9 billion. As a result, Canada's total trade deficit with the world went from $2.7 billion in March to $7.5 billion in April.
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Note to readers
Information on concepts and methods used for the monthly release of Canada's international merchandise trade is now available online. Please see "Notes on the monthly release of Canadian international merchandise trade" for more details.
For a detailed overview of the Canadian International Merchandise Trade program, please see "Guide to Canadian International Merchandise Trade Statistics."
Important notice to users of import statistics following the implementation of CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM)
Statistics Canada's primary data source used in the compilation of import statistics is undergoing a major transition as a result of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) digital initiative, implemented on October 21, 2024. Despite improved coverage since the last publication of Canadian International Merchandise Trade statistics, delays in the receipt of import data at Statistics Canada continue to impact the completeness and quality of import statistics.
Analysis indicates that additional data volumes will be received after Statistics Canada's deadline for monthly collection for the reference months of November 2024 through April 2025. While strategies for producing estimates to account for the late receipt of data have been enhanced to maximize the comprehensiveness of merchandise trade indicators for these months, Statistics Canada's ability to respond to these issues is limited.
Canadian International Merchandise Trade statistics are produced on both a customs basis and a balance-of-payments basis. Customs basis statistics are highly detailed and multidimensional, while more aggregated balance-of-payments basis statistics are aligned with Canada's macroeconomic accounting framework and are the source for key indicators related to merchandise trade. Within the customs basis statistics, the use of estimates is limited compared with the balance-of-payments basis statistics, relying on placeholder estimates within the special transactions category to partially account for data expected to be received at a later date. Within balance-of-payments basis statistics, estimation is more comprehensive in order to produce a more complete picture of Canada's import activity throughout the various categories for the affected months.
In light of the issues that are temporarily impacting the completeness and quality of international merchandise trade statistics, users should exercise caution and expect material revisions until the situation stabilizes. This is particularly true for import statistics on a customs basis, where estimation is more limited. While revisions to balance-of-payments basis statistics may be less apparent at the total import level, values by category will still be subject to material revisions as actual data replace estimates. Statistics Canada will provide further updates as new information becomes available.
Real-time data table
The real-time data table 12-10-0165-01 will be updated on June 16.
Next release
Data on Canadian international merchandise trade for May will be released on July 3.
Products
The International trade statistics portal is now available on the Statistics Canada website.
The product "International trade monthly interactive dashboard" (71-607-X) is now available. This interactive dashboard is a comprehensive analytical tool that presents monthly changes in Canada's international merchandise trade data on a balance-of-payments basis, fully supporting the information presented every month in the Daily release.
The product "The International Trade Explorer" (71-607-X) is now available online.
The updated "Canada and the World Statistics Hub" (13-609-X) is available online. This product illustrates the nature and extent of Canada's economic and financial relationship with the world using interactive charts and tables. It provides easy access to information on trade, investment, employment and travel between Canada and a number of countries, including the United States, Mexico, China, Japan, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
The product "Canada's international trade and investment country fact sheet" (71-607-X) is also available.
The online Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database is no longer available. It has been replaced by the Canadian International Merchandise Trade Web Application (71-607-X), a modern tool that provides trade data users with a number of enhancements.
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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