Québec, October 20, 2023. – Québec’s international merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 4.9% in August 2023 from the previous month. 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 were aircraft (-46.7%), non-metallic minerals (except diamonds) (-98.5%), aircraft engines (-18.2%), as well as lubricants and other petroleum refinery products (-76.7%).
The products whose exports increased in August include heavy fuel oils (+141.1%), unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals, and their alloys (+14.3%), other metal ores and concentrates not elsewhere classified (+187.8%), and unwrought copper and copper alloys (+31.2%).
Exports in the first eight months of 2023 were up 2.5% from the same period in 2022.
Québec’s international merchandise imports up in August 2023
Québec’s international merchandise imports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were up 3.1% in August from July 2023.
The products that contributed the most to this increase in imports were lubricants and other petroleum refinery products (+165.7%), lead and zinc ores and concentrates (+635.4%), other electrical equipment and components (+108.0%), and conventional crude oil (+11.4%).
In contrast, imports of certain products were down in August. This was the case for light-duty trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles (-9.7%), aircraft parts and other aerospace equipment (-17.3%), motor gasoline (including blending components and ethanol fuel) (-10.9%), and heavy fuel oils (-99.7%).
Imports in the first eight months of 2023 were down 1.6% from the same months of 2022.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on October 5, 2023, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars rose by 2.0% in August 2023 from the previous month. Canada’s merchandise imports declined by 0.2%.
For the first eight months of 2023, Canada’s merchandise exports rose by 6.2% compared with the same months of 2022, while imports decreased by 1.2%.
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International merchandise exports and imports1 (percentage change) |
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| 2022 | 2023 | ||||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change 2,3 | |||
| July | August | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exports | 4.1 | 8.4 | -4.9 | 2.5 | |
| Imports | 5.5 | -5.3 | 3.1 | -1.6 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exports | 1.5 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 6.2 | |
| Imports | 6.8 | -3.7 | -0.2 | -1.2 | |
|
1. In constant dollars, at 2012 pieces. |
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Useful links
International trade – Monthly data
International Trade Data Online: A tool for generating customized reports
Next release: November 21, 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.