
Canada
Global Trade Profile β’ Rank #10 Exporter
$566.23B
Total Exports (2023)
$548.63B
Total Imports (2023)
$17.60B
Trade Surplus
#10
Export Ranking
Trade Flow Visualization
Interactive map showing Canada's top trading partners. Green lines represent exports, red lines represent imports.
#10
Export Rank
$566.23B
Total Exports
$548.63B
Total Imports
+$17.60B
Trade Balance
26
Trade Partners
π Top Export Destinations
USA
China
United Kingdom
Japan
India
Mexico
Germany
Netherlands
Switzerland
Rep. of KoreaTop Export Products
π₯ Top Import Sources
USA
China
Mexico
Germany
Japan
Rep. of Korea
Viet Nam
Italy
United Kingdom
BrazilTop Import Products
π Historical Trade Trends (1995-2023)
29 Years
Data Coverage
29
Data Points
π
Trend Direction
π Featured Analysis
Canada is featured in our comprehensive analysis: Top 20 Oil Exporters: Interactive Maps & Trade Flows β
Canada Trade Analysis 2023
π Overview
Canada stands as the world's #10 largest exporter and #11 largest importer, demonstrating significant global trade influence.
The trade profile reveals a robust surplus of 17.60 billion, indicating strong export competitiveness.
The country maintains active trading relationships with 20 major partners, creating a highly diversified trade network.
Monthly trade flows average $92.91B, generating continuous economic activity across logistics, finance, and trade services.
π’ Export Markets
Export Market Concentration
Export concentration shows USA as the dominant market at 73.4%. The top three markets control 80.8% of exports.
Market Concentration Risk
Regional patterns reveal strong East Asian integration. Secondary markets (Mexico, Germany, Netherlands) provide $28.25B in additional trade.
π¦ Import Sources
Import Source Concentration
Canada relies heavily on USA for imports (53.1%),creating supply chain concentration risk.
Manufacturing inputs come primarily from China, Rep. of Korea, Viet Nam, Thailand, reflecting deep integration into Asian production networks. China's dominant position at 61.37 billion encompasses electronics components, textiles, machinery parts, and consumer goods, creating both efficiency benefits and concentration risks.
The USA provides 291.26 billion (53.1%) in imports, concentrated in agricultural products, aircraft, pharmaceuticals, and advanced technology.The top 10 import sources account for 83.0% of total imports, with the remaining 17% distributed among 10 other suppliers.
Regional sourcing patterns reveal diversified global sourcing. European suppliers including Germany (14.62B), Italy (7.62B), France (5.27B) focus on luxury goods, machinery, and specialized chemicals.
Supply chain resilience strategies increasingly emphasize "China Plus One" approaches, with Viet Nam, India, Thailandemerging as alternative manufacturing bases. The geographic proximity of major suppliers balances efficiency with risk diversification.
π¦ Product Composition
π Export Products
Top Export Products
Canada's export economy centers on diversified industrial production, with the leading export being petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crudeat $106.16 billion, accounting for 18.7% of total exports.
Vehicle-related products including passenger cars, hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and automotive parts total approximately 41.09 billion or 7.3% of exports, encompassing 5 distinct product categories.
The automotive sector's dominance is evident in the export portfolio, with with only spark-ignition internal combustion recip... (17.90B), with only spark-ignition internal combustion recip... (9.76B), parts and accessories, of bodies, other than safet... (5.41B), with only spark-ignition internal combustion recip... (4.11B), with both spark-ignition internal combustion recip... (3.90B). This automotive specialization reflects decades of manufacturing excellence, continuous innovation in fuel efficiency and hybrid technology, and established global brand recognition.
The transition to electric and hybrid vehicles is captured in export data, with 1 categories specifically related to alternative propulsion systems, totaling $3.90B.
Beyond automotive, Canada maintains strong positions in specialized equipment,, and Oils, Metals, Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude.
The top 20 export products collectively account for 45.6% of total exports, revealing healthy product diversification across multiple sectors.
π Import Products
Top Import Products
Import requirements center on preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals at 16.62 billion (3.0%), indicating resource dependency.
Beyond energy, critical imports include with only spark-ignition internal combus... (14.42B, 2.6%), spark-ignition internal combustion pisto... (11.95B, 2.2%), gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not p... (8.35B, 1.5%), with only spark-ignition internal combus... (8.28B, 1.5%), consisting of mixed or unmixed products ... (6.64B, 1.2%).Electronic components and devices total 11.23 billion (2.0% of imports), supporting domestic manufacturing and assembly operations. Pharmaceutical products represent 10.97 billion (2.0%), reflecting healthcare sector demands.
The import product mix reveals structural characteristics of Canada's economy: integration into global electronics supply chains, and sophisticated consumption patterns.
The ratio of raw materials to finished goods in imports (4 : 16among top 20 products) indicates balanced import composition. Import substitution potential exists in technology sectors through targeted industrial policies and investment.
Product diversification metrics reveal focused product specializationwith implications for economic resilience and growth potential. The technology ladder progression from 12 primary products to 6 high-tech goods indicates the economy's structural transformation and industrial upgrading trajectory.
Value addition opportunities exist in transitioning from raw material exports to processed goods, from components to finished products, and from standard to customized offerings. The product space connectivity, measuring relatedness between current exports and potential new products, suggests need for capability building to enter new product categories.
βοΈ Trade Balance Dynamics
| Partner | Exports | Imports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | $415.80B | $291.26B | +$124.54B |
| China | $28.01B | $61.37B | $-33.35B |
| Mexico | $6.94B | $33.37B | $-26.43B |
| Japan | $12.54B | $13.93B | $-1.40B |
| United Kingdom | $13.64B | $7.09B | +$6.55B |
Export-to-import ratio of 1.032 means exports cover 103.2% of import costs.
π Key Relationships
Major Trading Partners
| Partner | Exports | Imports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | $415.80B | $291.26B | +$124.54B |
| China | $28.01B | $61.37B | $-33.35B |
| Mexico | $6.94B | $33.37B | $-26.43B |
| Japan | $12.54B | $13.93B | $-1.40B |
| United Kingdom | $13.64B | $7.09B | +$6.55B |
| Germany | $5.49B | $14.62B | $-9.13B |
| Rep. of Korea | $5.10B | $10.17B | $-5.08B |
| India | $6.98B | $4.96B | +$2.02B |
| Total | $494.50B | $436.77B | +$57.73B |
The Canada-USA relationship leads at 707.06 billion in bilateral trade.View detailed analysis β
Additional major partnerships include Mexico (40.31B total trade), Japan (26.47B total trade), United Kingdom (20.73B total trade). Regional integration through Asian supply chains facilitates technology transfer, market access, and production efficiency. The diversity of trading relationshipsβ951.05B across top 10 partnersβprovides resilience against bilateral tensions and regional disruptions.
π Competitive Position
Competitive Advantage
Global rankings position Canada as the #10 exporter worldwide,among the elite tier of global trading powers. The country's share of global exports at approximately 5.662%provides substantial market influence and pricing power.
Export sophistication, measured by the dominance of primary commodities, indicates potential for value chain upgrading. The revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index shows strongest competitiveness in sectors where Canada's global market share exceeds its overall trade share by factors of 2 or more.
Competitive advantages emerge in sectors where export concentration exceeds import share, particularly inpetroleum oils and oils o, gold, non-monetary, unwro, with only spark-ignition . The revealed comparative advantage is strongest in product categories representing25.7% of exports. Market positioning against regional competitors shows leadership in key product segments.
Trade complementarity with major partners suggests deep integration into global supply chains. The export quality ladder, comparing unit values to world averages, indicates premium positioning in many categories.
Competitive dynamics are shaped by factor endowments including advanced technology and skilled labor, infrastructure quality, and business environment. The export survival rate, measuring the persistence of export relationships over time, suggests need for relationship strengthening.
Innovation capacity, reflected in the technology content of exports and R&D intensity, determines long-term competitiveness trajectories. The competitive threat from emerging exporters in similar product categories requires continuous upgrading and differentiation strategies to maintain market position. Regional integration through trade agreements provides preferential access to0 markets, creating competitive advantages over non-member competitors.
π― Strategic Outlook
Strategic Priority
The trade profile presents both opportunities and challenges for economic development strategy. Key strengths include consistent trade surpluses supporting macroeconomic stability,diversified market access reducing concentration risk, and competitive positions in essential commodities.
Vulnerabilities include excessive reliance on single export markets. The intersection of these factors creates a complex strategic landscape requiring careful navigation to maximize opportunities while mitigating risks.
Strategic priorities should focus on market diversification and value chain upgrading to enhance trade competitiveness. Opportunities exist in expanding trade with China, Hong Kong SAR, Belgium, France, developing new product capabilities in higher technology sectors, and strengthening regional integration through new partnership frameworks.
The digital transformation of trade, including e-commerce, digital services, and blockchain-based trade finance, offers new avenues for market access and efficiency gains. Green trade opportunities in renewable energy, sustainable products, and carbon markets represent growing segments aligned with global sustainability goals.
The evolving global trade environment, characterized by technological disruption, geopolitical realignment, and sustainability imperatives, will fundamentally reshape Canada's trade prospects. Success requires balanced policies addressing both maintaining export competitiveness while managing currency appreciation pressures.
Investment in infrastructure, education, and innovation ecosystems will determine the ability to climb value chains and capture larger shares of global value addition. The resilience agenda, emphasizing supply chain robustness, strategic autonomy in critical sectors, and economic security considerations, must be balanced with efficiency and openness principles.
As global trade patterns continue evolving, Canada's position as the world's #10 exporter provides a platform for continued growth, requiring adaptive strategies, institutional strengthening, and sustained commitment to competitiveness enhancement in an increasingly complex and interconnected global economy.
Data Notes
Data from CEPII BACI database, harmonized using UN Comtrade methodology. All values in current USD at 2023 exchange rates. Trade statistics cover merchandise goods only, excluding services. Mirror statistics reconciliation applied for data consistency. 2024 data available January 2026. HS6 product classification follows 2017 revision.
Data source: CEPII BACI | Last updated: January 2025 | Next update: January 2026