Québec, May 20, 2026. – Québec’s international merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 1.2% in March 2026 from the previous month (+2.8% in February). This finding comes from the most recent international merchandise trade data for Québec released today by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
The products that contributed the most to this monthly decrease are aircraft engines (-40.3%), pharmaceutical and medicinal products (-35.2%), service industry machinery and equipment (-55.2%), and iron ores and concentrates (-15.0%).
The products whose exports increased in March include copper and nickel ores and concentrates, whose exports were very low in February. Increases were also observed for jewellery, cut gems, jewellery findings, hollowware and flatware, and other articles of precious metal (+416.1%) and basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys, except gold, silver, platinum group metals and aluminum (+63.9%).
Exports in the first three months of 2026 were down 13.4% from the same period in 2025.
Exports to the United States down
Québec’s exports to the United States in the first three months of 2026, non-seasonally adjusted and in current dollars, were down 22.0% compared with the same months of 2025. On the same basis and over the same period, exports to other countries (except the United States) were up 9.0%. As a result, total exports—including to the United States—were down 14.5%.
Consult the tables on international merchandise trade with the United States for information about the product structure of Québec’s exports and imports with that country.
Québec’s international merchandise imports down 5.0% in March 2026
Québec’s international merchandise imports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 5.0% in March 2026 from February (+4.3% in February).
The products that contributed the most to this decrease in imports were basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys, except gold, silver, platinum group metals and aluminum (-68.9%), aircraft parts and other aerospace equipment (-26.3%), aircraft engines (-92.2%), and bauxite and aluminum oxide (-23.7%).
In contrast, imports of certain products were up in March. This was the case for conventional crude oil (+20.8%), perfumes and toiletries (+71.2%), as well as nickel ores and concentrates and diesel and biodiesel fuels, which had negligible import levels in February.
Imports in the first three months of 2026 were up 0.1% compared with the same months of 2025.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on May 5, 2026, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars increased by 1.4% in March 2026 from the previous month. Meanwhile, imports were down 3.1%.
For the first three months of 2026, Canada’s merchandise exports and imports were down 8.0% and 1.7%, respectively, compared with the same period in 2025.
| 2025 | 2026 | Cumulative change2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual change | February | March | |||||
| Monthly change | |||||||
| Québec | |||||||
| Exports | −3.9 | 2.8 | −1.2 | −13.4 | |||
| Importats | 4.9 | 4.3 | −5.0 | 0.1 | |||
| Canada | |||||||
| Exports | −1.1 | 6.0 | 1.4 | −8.0 | |||
| Imports | 0.1 | 5.3 | −3.1 | −1.7 | |||
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For more information about the principal economic indicators for Québec, see our economic highlights (in French only).
Liens utiles
International trade (monthly data)
International Trade Data Online: A tool for generating customized reports
Next release: June 23, 2026
The Institut de la statistique du Québec is the public body responsible for providing reliable, objective statistical information about Québec society. 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.