Québec, July 21, 2026. – Québec’s international merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 0.9% in May 2026 from the previous month (+4.2% in April). This finding comes from the most recent data on Québec’s international merchandise trade released today by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
The products that contributed the most to this monthly decline are aircraft
(-27.1%), telephone and data communications equipment (-69.8%), turbines, turbine generators, and turbine generator sets, except aircraft turbines
(-85.0%), and unwrought copper and copper alloys (-30.2%).
The products whose exports increased in May include unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (+37.2%), aviation fuel (+197.0%), diesel and biodiesel fuels (+50.3%), and pharmaceutical and medicinal products (+39.0%).
Exports in the first five months of 2026 were down 6.2% from the same period in 2025.
Exports to the United States down
Québec’s exports to the United States in the first five months of 2026, non-seasonally adjusted and in current dollars, were down 11.2% compared with the same months of 2025. On the same basis and over the same period, exports to other countries (except the United States) increased by 12.4%. As a result, total exports—including to the United States—declined by 4.9%.
Consult the tables on international merchandise trade with the United States for information about the product structure of Québec’s exports and imports with that country.
Important notice about the July 21, 2026 release
Due to the implementation of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system on October 21, 2024, delays are observed in the receipt of import data for the most recent reference months. These delays are impacting the quality and completeness of merchandise import statistics for this period. Although import data are published, they remain incomplete and are likely to be revised in the coming months.
For more information, see Statistics Canada’s Notes on the monthly release of Canadian international merchandise trade.
Québec’s international merchandise imports up 5.9% in May 2026
Québec’s international merchandise imports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were up 5.9% in May 2026 from April (-0.6% in April).
The products that contributed the most to this increase in imports are pharmaceutical and medicinal products (+37.0%), printed and integrated circuits, semiconductors, and printed circuit assemblies (+98.0%), light trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles with electric motor and hybrid engine (+29.0%), and bauxite and aluminum oxide (+24.1%).
In contrast, imports of certain products were down in May. This was the case for basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys, except gold, silver, platinum group metals and aluminum (-42.8%), other miscellaneous crop products (-54.2%), gold, silver, and platinum group metal ores and concentrates (-80.0%), and computers and computer peripherals (-11.3%).
Imports in the first five months of 2026 were up 2.5% compared with the same months of 2025.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on July 7, 2026, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars were down 0.9% in May 2026 from the previous month. Canada’s merchandise imports rose by 1.2%.
For the first five months of 2026, Canada’s merchandise exports decreased by 2.4% from the same period in 2025, while its imports were up 0.4%.
| 2025 | 2026 | Cumulative change2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual change | April | May | |||||
| Monthly change | |||||||
| Québec | |||||||
| Exports | -3.9 | 4.2 | -0.9 | -6.2 | |||
| Imports | 4.9 | -0.6 | 5.9 | 2.5 | |||
| Canada | |||||||
| Exports | -1.1 | 2.2 | -0.9 | -2.4 | |||
| Imports | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | |||
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For more information about the principal economic indicators for Québec, see our economic highlights (in French only).
Useful links
- International trade (monthly data)
- International Trade Data Online: A tool for generating customized reports
Next release: August 18, 2026
The Institut de la statistique du Québec is the public body responsible for providing reliable, objective statistical information about Québec society. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and an essential source of information for all those wishing to learn more about Québec.