Québec, March 21, 2023. – Québec’s international merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 1.4% in January 2023 from December 2022. 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 were pharmaceutical and medicinal products (-38.0%), other metal ores and concentrates not elsewhere classified (-70.2%), chemical products not elsewhere classified (-54.9%), and unwrought iron, steel and ferro-alloys (-33.2%).
The products whose exports increased in January include diesel and biodiesel fuels (+25.7%), other unwrought non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (+346.1%), unwrought copper and copper alloys (+41.4%), and light fuel oils (+65.4%).
Exports in January 2023 were up 12.4% from January 2022.
Québec’s international merchandise imports up in January 2023
Québec’s international merchandise imports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were up 0.5% in January 2023 from December 2022.
The products that contributed the most to this increase in imports were light-duty trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles (+7.2%), basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (except gold, silver, platinum group metals and aluminum) (+153.9%), other electrical equipment and components (+52.9%), and coke and other coke oven products (+424.7%).
In contrast, imports of certain products were down in January. This was the case for diesel and biodiesel fuels (-77.9%), aircraft parts and other aerospace equipment (-15.3%), lubricants and other petroleum refinery products (-28.3%), and nickel ores and concentrates (-48.0%).
Imports in January 2023 were up 3.6% from January 2022.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on March 8, 2023, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars increased by 6.4% in January 2023 from the previous month. Meanwhile, imports were up 3.5%.
Compared with January 2022, Canada’s merchandise exports and imports were up by 9.9% and 8.4%, respectively.
| International merchandise exports and imports1 (percentage changes) |
|||||
| 2022 | 2022 | 2023 | |||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change2,3 | |||
| December | January | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exports | 4.6 | –0.9 | –1.4 | 12.4 | |
| Imports | 4.9 | –5.8 | 0.5 | 3.6 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exports | 3.3 | –1.9 | 6.4 | 9.9 | |
| Imports | 6.3 | –2.3 | 3.5 | 8.4 | |
|
1. In constant dollars, at 2012 prices. |
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Useful links
International trade – Monthly data
International Trade Data Online: A tool for generating customized reports
Next release: April 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.