Dynamics of Global Transactions for Canadian Businesses, 2017
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Release date: February 13, 2019
Dynamics of global transactions for Canadian businesses, 2017
Dynamics of global transactions for Canadian businesses, 2017
Large businesses are more likely to be active in international markets.
| % of businesses exporting in 2017 | % of businesses importing in 2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 25.0 | 38.5 |
| Small | 22.6 | 36.3 |
| Medium-sized | 33.7 | 45.8 |
| Large | 43.9 | 58.4 |
Shipping costs are the most cited obstacle to exporting.
| Top 3 obstacles to exports | Percentage of businesses |
|---|---|
| Shipping costs | 22.6 |
| Uncertainty about foreign standards | 19.4 |
| Identifying foreign customers | 18.4 |
Almost half of manufacturers import goods or services from unaffiliated foreign businesses.
| Selected sectors | % of businesses importing from unaffiliated foreign businesses |
|---|---|
| All surveyed industries | 26.9 |
| Manufacturing | 48.8 |
| Utilities | 34.8 |
| Agriculture | 26.8 |
| Selected services | 24.6 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 19.8 |
| Construction | 9.4 |
Top 3 reasons why firms import from unaffiliated foreign businesses
| % of businesses citing reason as important or very important | |
|---|---|
| No suppliers available in Canada | 66.3 |
| Better quality goods or services | 49.6 |
| Reduce costs other than labour costs | 47.5 |
Note: SIBS 2017 covers businesses with 20 or more employees in selected industry sectors.
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy.
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