Notice of release
Québec, March 26, 2021. – The Institut de la statistique du Québec released today the highlights of an analysis of Québec’s international merchandise trade for 2020.
This analysis provides a picture of Québec’s international merchandise imports and exports in current dollars, on a customs basis. It approaches trade from the perspective of products and trading partners.
In particular, it shows which products were exported and imported the most, as well as their countries of destination and origin. The data for 2020, a very singular year in economic terms, are compared to those for 2019.
Highlights
- Québec’s international merchandise trade (the sum of exports and imports) totalled nearly $174.7 billion in 2020, down 11.8% from 2019. The province’s main trading partners were the United States (51.4%) and China (10.0%).
- Québec’s international merchandise exports stood at nearly $85.8 billion in 2020, down 8.1% from 2019. 70% of those exports were destined for the U.S. market. China was Québec’s second largest export market, accounting for 5.6% of its exports.
- For their part, Québec’s international merchandise imports totalled $88.9 billion in 2020, down 15.1% from 2019. The United States remained Québec’s leading supplier, providing a third of its imports (33.5%). In addition to the United States and China (14.3% of imports), Québec imported goods from 13 other countries, worth over $1 billion for each country.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.