Québec, April 21, 2023. – Québec’s international merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 3.2% in February 2023 from the previous month. 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 decline were diesel and biodiesel fuels (-50.2%), iron ores and concentrates (-30.1%), unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (-14.2%), and aircraft (-19.7%).
The products whose exports increased in February include aircraft engines (+65.6%), turbines, turbine generators, and turbine generator sets (except aircraft turbines) (+286.3%), light fuel oils (+50.8%), and parts of electronic equipment not elsewhere classified (+22.9%).
Exports in the first two months of 2023 were up 4.9% from the first two months of 2022.
Québec’s international merchandise imports down in February 2023
Québec’s international merchandise imports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, were down 5.0% in February 2023 from January 2023.
The products that contributed the most to this decrease in imports were light-duty trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles (-7.7%), aviation fuel (-57.8%), lubricants and other petroleum refinery products (-65.6%), and sugar and sugar mill by-products (-94.4%).
On the other hand, imports of certain products were up in February. This was the case for motor gasoline (including blending components and ethanol fuel) (+17.0%), waste and scrap of non-ferrous metals (+197.8%), nickel ores and concentrates (+84.9%), and lead and zinc ores and concentrates, whose imports were negligible in January.
Imports in the first two months of 2023 were up 3.3% from the first two months of 2022.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on April 5, 2023, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars decreased by 0.7% in February 2023 from the previous month. Meanwhile, imports were up 0.8%.
For the first two months of 2023, Canada’s merchandise exports and imports were up by 9.3% and 7.1%, respectively.
| International merchandise exports and imports1 (percentage changes) |
|||||
| 2022 | 2023 | ||||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change2,3 | |||
| January | February | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exports | 4.1 | –1.4 | –3.2 | 4.9 | |
| Imports | 5.0 | –3.0 | –5.0 | 3.3 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exports | 3.3 | 5.3 | –0.7 | 9.3 | |
| Imports | 6.3 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 7.1 | |
|
1. In constant dollars, at 2012 prices. Sources |
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Useful links
International trade – Monthly data
International Trade Data Online: A tool for generating customized reports
Next release: May 18, 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.