Québec, October 22, 2024. – Québec’s international merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 5.6% in August following two consecutive increases (+5.9% in July and +8.0% in June). This finding comes from an analysis of the most recent of Québec’s international merchandise trade data released today by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
The products that contributed the most to this monthly decrease are unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals and their alloys (-86.4%), aircraft (-22.9%), unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (-11.9%), and iron ores and concentrates (-17.3%).
The products whose exports increased in August include heavy fuel oils (+126.4%), diesel and biodiesel fuels (+115.0%), as well as nickel and copper ores and concentrates, whose exports were very low in July.
Exports in the first eight months of 2024 were up 3.4% compared with the same months of 2023.
Québec’s international merchandise imports up in August 2024
Québec’s international merchandise imports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were up 0.1% in August 2024 from July (-3.7% in July).
The products that contributed the most to this increase in imports are batteries and battery chargers (+336.5%), light trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles with electric motor and hybrid engine (+27.8%), locomotives, railway rolling stock, and rapid transit equipment, whose imports were negligible in July, and pharmaceutical and medicinal products (+13.0%).
In contrast, imports of certain products were down in August. 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) (-79.6%), aircraft (-84.4%), unwrought copper and copper alloys (-90.9%), and passenger cars and chassis, without electric motor (-36.4%).
Imports in the first eight months of 2024 were up 1.1% from the same period in 2023.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on October 8, 2024, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars declined by 0.9% in August 2024 from the previous month. Canada’s merchandise imports increased by 0.7%.
For the first eight months of 2024, Canada’s merchandise exports and imports decreased by 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively, compared with the same months in 2023.
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International merchandise exports and imports1 |
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| 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
| Annual change | Monthly change | Cumulative change2 | |||||
| July | August | ||||||
| Québec | |||||||
| Exports | 3.3 | 5.9 | –5.6 | 3.4 | |||
| Imports | –2.1 | –3.7 | 0.1 | 1.1 | |||
| Canada | |||||||
| Exports | 5.8 | –1.2 | –0.9 | –0.2 | |||
| Imports | –1.1 | –1.2 | 0.7 | –0.1 | |||
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1. Seasonally adjusted data in constant dollars (at 2017 prices). Sources |
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Useful links
International trade – Monthly data
International Trade Data Online: A tool for generating customized reports
Next release: November 19, 2024
For 25 years, the Institut de la statistique du Québec has been producing, analyzing, and disseminating official, objective and high-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 an essential source of information for all those wishing to learn more about Québec.