Québec, March 18, 2021. – Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise exports in constant dollars were down 1.4% in January 2021 from December 2020. These figures on international merchandise trade were released today by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
The main products that contributed to the decrease in exports in January were unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals and their alloys (-67.7%), commercial and service industry machinery and equipment (-72.6%), oilseeds (except canola) (-51.6%), and heavy fuel oils (-81.3%).
In contrast, the largest increases in January were posted by aircraft (+14.6%), other metal ores and concentrates not elsewhere classified (+155.0%), unwrought copper and copper alloys (+61.3%), as well as copper ores and concentrates, whose export volume was zero in the previous month.
In January 2021, Québec’s international merchandise exports in constant dollars were up 2.1% from January 2020.
Québec’s international merchandise imports down 4.7% in January 2021
Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise imports in constant dollars declined by 4.7% in January 2021 from the previous month, following a 0.9% increase in December 2020.
The decrease in imports in January was due in part to a drop in imports of conventional crude oil (-33.8%), aviation fuel (-100.0%), bauxite and aluminum oxide (-28.8%), and copper ores and concentrates (-68.9%).
However, Québec imports of ammonia and chemical fertilizers (+257.3%), parts of electronic equipment not elsewhere classified (+24.6%) and coke and other coke oven products (+128.1%) posted strong increases in January.
Québec’s international merchandise imports in constant dollars declined 10.4% in January 2021 from January 2020.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on March 5, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars rose 3.6% in January 2021 from the previous month. Canada’s merchandise imports increased by 0.9% in January.
In January 2021, compared with January 2020, Canada’s merchandise exports were up 2.8%, while its merchandise imports remained stable at 0.0%.
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International merchandise exports and imports1 |
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| 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change2,3 | |||
| December | January | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exportations | – 8.5 | 1.2 | – 1.4 | – 2.1 | |
| Importations | – 15.3 | 0.9 | – 4.7 | – 10.4 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exportations | – 6.7 | – 1.0 | 3.6 | 2.8 | |
| Importations | – 9.4 | – 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | |
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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
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.