¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ

Language selection

Search

Monthly trade report - September 2024: Office of the Chief Economist

Highlights

Table 1: Canada’s trade performance

GoodsServicesTotal
Exports ($ billions) 63.917.281.1
m/m (%)-0.11.60.2
YTD (%)0.73.51.3
Imports ($ billions)65.118.483.5
m/m (%)-0.40.3-0.3
YTD (%)1.06.82.2
Balance ($ billions)-1.3-1.2-2.5
m/m ($ billions)0.20.20.4

Note: “m/m” is the change from the previous month; “YTD” is the year-to-date (January to recent month) cumulative change compared to the same period in the previous year.

Data: Statistics Canada. Balance of payments basis, seasonally adjusted.

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Figure 1: Canada’s monthly trade performance

Text version - Figure 1
ExportImport
(monthly % change)
2024-07-1.4%-1.5%
2024-08-1.4%0.5%
2024-09-0.1%-0.4%
ExportImport
(monthly % change)
2024-070.2%0.9%
2024-080.3%-0.2%
2024-091.6%0.3%

Data: Statistics Canada Tables 12-10-0011-01 and 12-10-0144-01. Balance of payments basis, seasonally adjusted.

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Industry view - exports

Export decreases were observed in 5 out of 11 product sections with metal and non-metallic minerals accounting for the largest total decrease (-5.4%), mainly attributed to lower exports of unwrought gold, silver, platinum metals, and their alloys (-15.4%). Lower exports of gold to the United Kingdom and gold transfers to the U.S. were behind the decline.

Exports of energy products fell 2.6% mainly due to lower crude oil prices. Meanwhile, exports of aircraft and other transportation equipment increased 10.3%, with aircraft exports leading the increase as September saw increased shipments of private jets to the U.S.

Export increases were seen in all 4 service sectors in September, growing 1.6% overall. Higher commercial service exports (1.9%) lead the increase while both transportation services (1.0%) and travel services (1.0%) also increased in September.

Figure 2: Exports by industry and sector

Text version - Figure 2
Export (monthly % change)
Aircraft and other transportation10.3
Forestry products5.3
Government services4.1
Metal ores and non-metallic minerals3.7
Farm and fishing2.3
Motor vehicles and parts1.9
Commercial services1.9
Electronic and electrical equipment1.6
Transportation services1.0
Travel services1.0
Industrial machinery & equipment-0.4
Chemical, plastic and rubber products-0.9
Consumer goods-1.3
Energy products-2.6
Metal & non-metallic mineral products-5.4

Data: Statistics Canada Tables 12-10-0163-01 and 12-10-0144-01. Balance of payments basis, seasonally adjusted.

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Industry view - imports

Imports fell in 8 out of 11 product sections and grew in 3 out of 4 service sectors.

The decrease in total goods imports was mainly driven by metal and non-metallic mineral products (-12.7%), particularly unwrought gold, silver, and platinum metals (-46.4%). Fewer imports of unwrought gold from the United Kingdom and Switzerland were observed in September.

Imports of energy products (+13.6%) partially offset the monthly decline in good imports. In particular, imports of refined petroleum energy products grew 18.7%. Imports within the “special transactions” category doubled from August due to the implementation of CBSA’s Assessment and Revenue Management initiative and may be revised in the future.

Services imports were up 0.3%, with commercial services growing 1.2% due to higher financial services payments. On the other hand, transportation services decreased 2.9% in September.

Figure 3: Imports by industry and sector

Text version - Figure 3
Imports (monthly % change)
Energy products13.6
Consumer goods1.6
Commercial services1.2
Motor vehicles and parts0.7
Government services0.6
Travel services0.2
Chemical, plastic and rubber products-0.2
Farm and fishing-0.5
Forestry products-2.3
Transportation services-2.9
Industrial machinery & equipment-3.4
Electronic and electrical equipment-5.6
Aircraft and other transportation-12.6
Metal & non-metallic mineral products-12.7
Metal ores and non-metallic minerals-14.3

Data: Statistics Canada Tables 12-10-0163-01 and 12-10-0144-01. Balance of payments basis, seasonally adjusted.

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Global markets

Goods exports to the U.S. increased 1.6% in September due to higher aircraft and unwrought gold exports, while imports also grew 0.8%. This resulted in Canada’s trade surplus with the U.S. to widen from $7.8 billion in August to $8.3 billion in September.

Exports to countries other than the U.S. fell 5.3% in September. This decrease was largely due to lower exports to the United Kingdom (gold), as well as Switzerland.

Imports from countries other than the U.S. also fell in September by 2.3%. Lower imports from Switzerland (unwrought gold) and the Netherlands (passenger cars and light trucks) drove this decrease.

As a result of these changes, Canada’s trade deficit with countries other than the U.S. widened from $9.3 billion in August to $9.6 billion in September.

Figure 4: Goods trade by main markets

Text version - Figure 4
ExportsImports
(monthly % change)
United States1.60.8
China-5.9-0.9
European Union3.6-0.7
Rest of world-7.5-3.5

Data: Statistics Canada Table 12-10-0011-01. Balance of payments basis, seasonally adjusted.

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Prices and volumes

The drop in the monthly value of goods exports was driven by a 1.6% decrease in prices, as volumes rose 1.4%. However, the significant drop in metal and non-metallic mineral products exports was due to a notable decline in volumes (-3.5%), adding to a price decrease of 1.9%.

The decrease in goods imports was due to a 0.5% decrease in prices, while volumes grew 0.1% from August. That said, the biggest driver of the increased volumes was due to the “special transactions” category – a placeholder category with estimated values put in place while the Canada Border Services Agency switches to a digital initiative and phased out the accounting declarations. These values may be significantly revised in subsequent releases.

The Canadian dollar appreciated in September, reaching 73.82 US cents, approaching levels last seen at the beginning of 2024.

The monthly price of Western Canada Select crude oil dropped in September to $US75.9 per barrel, the lowest price since January 2024.

Figure 5: Goods trade

Text version - Figure 5
PricesVolumes
Imports-0.50.1
Exports-1.61.4

Data: Statistics Canada Table 12-10-0168-01. Balance of payments basis, seasonally adjusted.

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Figure 6: Exchange rate & oil prices

Text version - Figure 6
Exchange Rate (left axis)Western Canada Select (WCS) Oil Price (right axis)
Aug-2374.286.8
Sep-2373.995.4
Oct-2372.986.0
Nov-2372.971.3
Dec-2374.570.2
Jan-2474.574.3
Feb-2474.178.6
Mar-2473.989.4
Apr-2473.197.1
May-2473.291.0
Jun-2473.089.3
Jul-2472.989.9
Aug-2473.284.4
Sep-2473.875.9

Data: Bank of Canada Monthly Exchange Rate. Haver Analytics.

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

What to watch

Table 2: Trade by industry sector

ExportsImports
Sep. 24m/m %YTD %Sep. 24m/m %YTD %
Sep. 24m/m %YTD %Sep. 24m/m %YTD %
Goods63,880-0.10.765,145-0.41
Primary products36,771-1.21.820,645-3.2-0.3
Energy products14,174-2.64.43,31413.6-12.6
Non-primary products25,4041.4-0.841,025-1.61.4
Industrial machinery & equipment4,220-0.4-2.17,215-3.4-1.5
Electronic machinery & equipment2,9441.62.86,991-5.60.3
Motor vehicles and parts7,8701.9-6.611,7090.70.9
Aircraft & other transportation equipment2,81710.34.81,896-12.63.2
Consumer goods7,554-1.33.513,2141.63.8
Services17,1861.63.518,3880.36.8
Commercial services11,2741.96.710,1011.23.3
Travel services4,0711-3.45,2620.216.8
Transportation services1,68712.22,861-2.93.9
Government services1544.1-4.91650.64.6
Total goods and services81,0660.21.383,533-0.32.2

Note: “m/m %” is the change from the previous month; “YTD %” is the year-to-date (January to recent month) cumulative change compared to the same period in the previous year.

Data: Statistics Canada Tables 12-10-0163-01 and 12-10-0144-01. Balance of payments basis, seasonally adjusted.

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Table 3: Goods trade by main markets

ExportsImports
Sep. 24m/m %YTD %Sep. 24m/m %YTD %
United States48,6551.6-0.440,3670.8-0.2
Mexico672-14.5-2.92,3710.92
European Union2,8923.6-4.56,209-0.7-1.2
Germany66728.2-9.71,6694.5-8.2
France316-12.4-9.9499-51.3
United Kingdom2,382-25.989709-17.4-12.3
Indo-Pacific region6,0160.7-1.89,506-1.17.4
China2,598-5.9-1.85,131-0.93.1
Japan1,31613.4-7.71,509-0.915
South Korea550-10.512.11,134-1.235.1
India44117.18.84850.23.9
Singapore389239.318.625923.27.6
Australia282-25.2-1230-20.1-2.4
Indonesia18419.591576.129.2
Taiwan1930.2-3.3324-1.2-5.8
Hong Kong SAR63-71.8-24.1277-8.4-13.8
Rest of the world3,263-1.3-55,983-4.94.2
Total goods trade63,880-0.10.765,145-0.41

Notes: The Indo-Pacific region total includes only the 9 markets for which data are available. “m/m %” is the change from the previous month; “YTD %” is the year-to-date (January to recent month) cumulative change compared to the same period in the previous year.

Data: Statistics Canada Table 12-10-0011-01. Balance of payments basis, seasonally adjusted.

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ.

Date modified: