Québec, June 22, 2021. – Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise exports in constant dollars were down 1.8% in April from March 2021. This finding comes from an analysis of 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 the decrease of these exports were iron ores and concentrates (-36.2%), light fuel oils (-98.0%), and other metal ores and concentrates not elsewhere classified (-72.0%).
However, exports of some other products showed significant increases in April, including unwrought gold, silver and platinum group metals and their alloys (+116.0%), heavy fuel oils (+502.7%), and unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (+12.0%).
For the first four months of 2021, Québec’s international merchandise exports were up 1.1% from the same months in 2020.
Québec’s international merchandise imports down 5.5% in April 2021
Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise imports in constant dollars were down 5.5% in April from March 2021.
The products that contributed the most to the drop of these imports in April were pharmaceutical and medicinal products (-28.2%), light-duty trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) (-10.2%), and basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (-58.5%).
On the other hand, imports of many products were up in April, including conventional crude oil (+38.4%), motor gasoline, including blending components and ethanol fuel (+48.2%), and lubricants and other petroleum refinery products (+64.6%).
For the first four months of 2021, Québec’s international merchandise imports grew 9.2% compared with the same months in 2020.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on June 8, Canada’s merchandise exports and imports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, declined by 4.8% and 7.1% respectively in April from March 2021.
For the first four months of 2021, compared with the same period last year, Canada’s merchandise exports rose by 2.7%, while its imports increased by 10.2%.
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International merchandise exports and imports1 (percentage changes) |
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| 2020 | 2021 | ||||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change2,3 | |||
| March | April | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exports | -8.7 | 4.2 | -1.8 | 1.1 | |
| Imports | -15.2 | 9.9 | -5.5 | 9.2 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exports | -6.4 | 1.1 | -4.8 | 2.7 | |
| Imports | -9.3 | 7.9 | -7.1 | 10.2 | |
|
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: July 15, 2021
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.