Québec, June 16, 2020. – The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on international merchandise trade were particularly noticeable in April, when containment and distancing measures resulted in numerous production interruptions and business closures, as well as reduced demand for certain products.
Québec’s international merchandise exports down 19.0% in April 2020
Québec’s international merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, fell 19.0% in April 2020 compared with the previous month (-6.1% in March).
The main contributors to the decline in April were aircraft (-53.5%), basic and semi-finished products of gold, silver, and platinum group metals and their alloys (-81.9%), medium and heavy-duty trucks (-76.1%) and commercial and service industry machinery and equipment (-56.5%).
Among the main products exported by Québec, some experienced increases in April. These include aluminum and aluminum alloys (+10.6%), fresh and frozen pork (+10.8%), pharmaceutical and medicinal products (+6.8%) and iron ores and concentrates (+1.4%).
In the first four months of 2020, Québec’s international merchandise exports in constant dollars fell 4.4% from the same period in 2019.
Québec's international merchandise imports down 31.2% in April 2020
Québec’s international merchandise imports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, fell 31.2% in April 2020 compared with the previous month (-1.2% in March).
This sharp decline was due in part to lower imports of light-duty trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles (-85.2%), passenger cars and chassis (-70.0%), conventional crude oil (-52.6%) and motor gasoline (-60.8%).
Among the main products imported by Québec, the largest increases in April were seen in basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (+74.2%), lubricants and other petroleum refinery products (+166.1%), bauxite and aluminum oxide (+33.5%) and computers and computer peripheral equipment (+6.9%).
During the first four months of 2020, Québec’s international merchandise imports in constant dollars decreased 16.0% compared with the same months in 2019.
The situation in Canada
According to data released by Statistics Canada on June 4, Canada’s merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted and in constant dollars, fell 19.0% in April compared with the previous month (-4.1% in March). As for merchandise imports, they fell 25.0% in April (-4.6% in March).
In the first four months of 2020 compared with the same period of the previous year, Canada’s merchandise exports fell 4.1%, while merchandise imports declined 10.6%.
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International merchandise exports and imports1 (percentage change) |
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| 2019 | 2020 | ||||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change2,3 | |||
| March | April | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exports | 0.5 | -6.1 | -19.0 | -4.4 | |
| Imports | 2.6 | -1.2 | -31.2 | -16.0 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exports | 2.4 | -4.1 | -19.0 | -4.1 | |
| Imports | 1.2 | -4.6 | -25.0 | -10.6 | |
|
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.