Québec, September 16, 2020. – Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise exports in constant dollars were up 0.1% in July 2020, following a 5.8% increase in June. Exports for the month of July remained 13.8% below their February 2020 level, before containment measures were put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Among the main products exported by Québec, aircraft (+27.5%), basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (except gold, silver, platinum group metals and aluminum) (+69.5%), iron ores and concentrates (+11.2%), and fresh and frozen pork (+25.9%) posted the largest increases.
In contrast, unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (-7.6%), electricity (-54.3%), basic and semi-finished products of gold, silver, platinum group metals and their alloys (-28.7%), and aircraft engines (-5.6%) declined the most in July.
In the first seven months of 2020, Québec’s international merchandise exports in constant dollars fell 9.3% compared with the same months of 2019.
Québec’s international merchandise imports up 9.4% in July 2020
Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise imports in constant dollars rose 9.4% in July compared with the previous month, after surging 32.4% in June. Despite these increases, imports in July were 3.4% below their February 2020 level.
The products that contributed most to the increase in total imports in July were light-duty trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles (+58.8%), unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals and their alloys (+183.7%), and bauxite and aluminum oxide (+70.1%). Aircraft were also among the products that contributed the most to the increase in imports in July, as their volume was near zero in June.
On the other hand, imports of basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (except gold, silver, platinum group metals and aluminum) (-75.6%), motor gasoline (-20.9%), conventional crude oil (-9.4%), and lubricants and other petroleum refinery products (-29.2%) recorded the sharpest declines in July.
During the first seven months of 2020, Québec’s international merchandise imports in constant dollars fell 20.6% compared with the same period in 2019.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on September 3, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars were up 6.1% in July 2020 from the previous month (+10.1% in June). Canada’s merchandise imports increased by 11.2% in July from the previous month (+28.5% in June).
In the first seven months of 2020, compared to the same period last year, Canada’s merchandise exports and imports declined by 9.1% and 14.3%, respectively.
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International merchandise exports and imports1 (percentage change) |
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| 2019 | 2020 | ||||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change2,3 | |||
| June | July | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exports | 0.4 | 5.8 | 0.1 | -9.3 | |
| Imports | 2.6 | 32.4 | 9.4 | -20.6 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exports | 2.4 | 10.1 | 6.1 | -9.1 | |
| Imports | 1.3 | 28.5 | 11.2 | -14.3 | |
|
1. In constant dollars, at 2012 prices. |
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International Trade Data Online: statistique.quebec.ca/international-trade
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.