Canada Imports1971-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar | Historical | Chart

Imports to Canada dropped 3.9% from a month earlier to CAD 35.29 billion in May 2020, the lowest since November of 2010 and below market estimates of CAD 38.1 billion, reflecting supply challenges at a time when various economies around the world were progressively re-opening. Purchases fell mostly for basic and industrial chemical, plastic and rubber products (-14.4%); and motor vehicles and parts (-14.8%), namely passenger cars (-96.5%). On the other hand, imports of consumer goods increased 3.4 percent, led by miscellaneous goods and supplies (+27.1%) and carpets, textile furnishings and other textile products (+42.5%). Imports from the US advanced 1.2% to CAD 20.4 billion, while purchases from non-US countries plunged 10.1%, with the UK (refined gold), South Korea (motor vehicles) and Japan (motor vehicles) contributing the most to the decline.

Imports to Canada were down 25.1% from a month earlier to CAD 35.9 billion in April of 2020, the lowest since February of 2011, and below market estimates of CAD 41.4 billion. Purchases fell mostly for motor vehicles & parts (-77.1%), the steepest decline ever observed, in particular passenger cars and light trucks (-90.0%), amid the widespread production shutdowns in motor vehicle manufacturing throughout the world and lower demand for new vehicles across Canada. Imports of engines and parts also fell sharply (-68.3%), mostly due to vehicle production shutdowns in Canada, but also to shutdowns in the production of engines and parts in the US and Mexico. Purchases also fell significantly for energy products (-53.6%), driven mostly by significant decreases in crude oil imports (-61.0%); and consumer goods (-11.6%). Imports were down from the US (-35.3%) and from non-US countries (-6.3%), especially on lower imports of motor vehicles and parts from Mexico, Japan and Germany.

Imports to Canada declined 3.5% from a month earlier to CAD 47.7 billion, a level not observed since October 2017 but above market expectations of CAD 45.8 billion. Imports fell for passenger cars and light trucks (-6.2%); engines and parts (-23%); and energy (-5.2%), mainly crude oil (-12.8%). In addition, imports of aircraft engines and parts fell CAD 175 million; and those of aircraft also decreased CAD 169 million. Imports fell from the United States (-5.1%) and from non-US countries (-0.5%), particularly Mexico (-14.4%) and Germany (-10.2%), both in part on decreased imports of motor vehicles and parts. Also, imports from China (-1.1%) fell slightly in March. In the first quarter of 2020, imports went down 2.0%, the fourth consecutive quarterly decline. Imports of electronic and electrical equipment and parts (-7.7%), which were impacted by decreased trade with China, posted the largest quarterly decline.

Imports to Canada decreased 0.8 percent over a month earlier to CAD 49.3 billion in February of 2020, slightly surpassing market expectations of CAD 49 billion. This was the lowest level of imports since February of 2018, amid lower purchases of energy products (-16 percent), especially due to reduced shipments of crude oil from the US. Conversely, those of aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts climbed (27.3 percent), with acquisitions of aircraft up by CAD 565 million to reach their highest level in a year. High-value airliners from the US and Europe were primarily responsible for the gain in February. Imports from the US went up 1.7 percent while those from countries other than the US plunged 5.6 percent.