Québec, June 21, 2023. – Québec’s international merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 2.7% in April 2023 from March 2023. This finding comes from an analysis of 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 decrease are aircraft (-43.1%), heavy fuel oils (-29.6%), unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (-5.6%), and unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals and their alloys (-42.9%).
The products whose exports increased in April include aircraft engines (+29.2%), other transportation equipment (+98.2%), waste and scrap of iron and steel (+111.4%), and diesel and biodiesel fuels (+36.5%).
Exports in the first four months of 2023 were up 6.0% from the same period in 2022.
Québec’s international merchandise imports down in April 2023
Québec’s international merchandise imports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 2.8% in April 2023 from the previous month.
The products that contributed the most to the decrease in imports are motor gasoline (including blending components and ethanol fuel) (-40.3%), basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (except gold, silver, platinum group metals and aluminum) (-76.4%), conventional crude oil (-27.1%), and aviation fuel (-52.3%).
On the other hand, imports of certain products were up in April. This was the case for light-duty trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles (+4.7%), locomotives, railway rolling stock, and rapid transit equipment (+644.7%), as well as aircraft and diesel and biodiesel fuels (imports for both of these groups of products were very low in March).
Imports in the first four months of 2023 were down 1.4% from the same months of 2022.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on June 7, 2023, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars increased by 2.1% in April 2023 from the previous month. Meanwhile, imports were up 0.3%.
For the first four months of 2023, Canada’s merchandise exports rose by 9.4% compared with the same months of 2022, while imports decreased by 0.1%.
| International merchandise exports and imports1 (percentage changes) | |||||
| 2022 | 2023 | ||||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change2,3 | |||
| February | March | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exports | 4.0 | 5.9 | –2.7 | 6.0 | |
| Imports | 5.0 | 3.3 | –2.8 | –1.4 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exports | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 9.4 | |
| Imports | 6.4 | –5.2 | 0.3 | –0.1 | |
|
1. In constant dollars, at 2012 prices. Sources |
|||||
Useful links
International trade – Monthly data
International Trade Data Online: A tool for generating customized reports
Next release: July 20, 2023
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.