Québec, April 21, 2021. – Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise exports in constant dollars were down 3.6% in February 2021 from January. This finding was revealed in an analysis of new Québec international merchandise trade data released today by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
The products that contributed the most to the decrease in exports in February were aircraft (-22.8%), other metal ores and concentrates not elsewhere classified
(-89.3%), iron ores and concentrates (-22.5%), and oilseeds except canola
(-77.1%).
However, there were significant increases in exports of certain products, including commercial and service industry machinery and equipment (+238.4%), heavy fuel oils (+463.2%), and electricity (+206.4%).
For the first two months of 2021, total exports were down 5.4% compared with the same months of 2020.
Québec’s international merchandise imports down 4.0% in February 2021
Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise imports in constant dollars were down 4.0% in February 2021 from January.
The products that contributed the most to the drop in imports in February 2021 include motor gasoline (-90.4%), conventional crude oil (-41.6%), as well as basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys
(-66.5%).
On the other hand, imports were up for many products, such as pharmaceutical and medicinal products (+55.9%), unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals and their alloys (+51.7%), and aircraft, whose import volume was very low in the previous month.
For the first two months of 2021, imports were down 6.4% compared with the same months of 2020.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on April 7, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars decreased by 2.6% in February 2021 from January. Canada’s merchandise imports declined by 3.0%.
In the first two months of 2021 compared with the same period last year, Canada’s merchandise exports rose by 0.1%, while its imports declined by 0.8%.
|
International merchandise exports and imports1 (percentage variation) |
|||||
| 2020 | 2021 | ||||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change2,3 | |||
| January | February | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exports | -8.5 | -1.7 | -3.6 | -5.4 | |
| Imports | -15.3 | -3.9 | -4.0 | -6.4 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exports | -6.6 | 2.6 | -2.6 | 0.1 | |
| Imports | -9.3 | 0.4 | -3.0 | -0.8 | |
|
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: May 18, 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.