Québec, June 29, 2021. – The Institut de la statistique du Québec released today its quarterly overview of Québec’s international merchandise imports and exports in current dollars, established on a customs basis. The analysis approaches trade from the perspective of trading partners and products.
It provides information on the most exported and imported products in the 1st quarter of 2021. The geographic dimension of the analysis allows us to identify Québec’s main export markets and sources of supply.
Highlights from the 1st quarter of 2021
- Québec’s international merchandise trade (the sum of exports and imports) totalled $46.5 billion, up 1.8% from the 1st quarter of 2020. The province’s main trading partners were the United States (54.4%) and China (9.4%).
- Québec’s international merchandise exports stood at nearly $23.1 billion, up 4.7% compared with the same period in 2020. A large proportion of these exports were destined for the U.S. market (69.4%) and a smaller proportion for the Chinese market (5.1%). Unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys were the most exported products (7.2% of total exports).
- Québec’s international merchandise imports reached just over $23.4 billion, down 1.0% from the 1st quarter of 2020. The United States remained Québec’s leading supplier, accounting for 33.5% of imports. The second largest supplier was China (13.7%). The most imported products were light-duty trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles (10.5% of total imports).
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.