Top Canadian Exports in 2010

Jun 15, 2011
Daniel Workman

Canadian Maple Leaf Symbolizes Canada's Richly Diversified Exports - kevinrosseel (morguefile.com)

Nickel, gold, diamonds and crude oil were among the big winners in exports from the Great White North during 2010.

Total Canadian exports in 2010 were C$399.4 billion, up 11% from 2009.

To put that double-digit percentage gain into perspective, Canadian shipments last year were actually down 17.4% from 2008 when the severe global recession started.

Still, the rich diversity of Canada’s exports insulates the Great White North from disastrous downturns or spikes in global product demand.

Top Canadian Exports by Dollar Value

The following top 15 product categories accounted for 48.3% of total Canadian exports in 2010.

Crude oil … C$51.9 billion, up 21.3% from 2009 (13% of total exports)
Passenger vehicles … $38 billion, up 43% (9.5% of total)
Liquefied gases … $18.4 billion, up 0.1% (4.6% of total)
Non-crude oil preparations … $14.8 billion, up 23.5% (3.7% of total)
Gold … $13.8 billion, up 65.4% (3.5% of total)
Vehicle parts … $9.1 billion, up 30.1% (2.3% of total)
Airplanes, helicopters and spacecraft … $6.9 billion, down 11.1% (1.7% of total)
Aluminum … $6 billion, up 23.9% (1.5% of total)
Coal … $5.99 billion, up 20.8% (1.5% of total)
Fertilizers … $5.2 billion, up 41.9% (1.3% of total)
Lumber … $5.1 billion, up 28% (1.3% of total)
Chemical woodpulp … $4.96 billion, up 36% (1.2% of total)
Wheat … $4.7 billion, down 22.4% (1.1% of total)
Gas turbines (includes turbo-jets) … $4.1 billion, down 7.8% (1% of total)
Medications … $4 billion, down 29.3% (1% of total).

Overall, Canadian exports achieved solid growth in 2010. Only 4 of the above product categories posted percentage declines from 2010.

Fastest-growing Canadian Exports

Among Canada’s top 25 exports, the following 10 goods garnered the highest percentage gains last year.

Nickel … up 85.6% from 2009
Gold … up 65.4%
Passenger vehicles … up 43%
Fertilizers … up 41.9%
Diamonds … up 38.7%
Chemical woodpulp … up 36%
Engines … up 30.9%
Vehicle parts … up 30.1%
Lumber … up 28%
Aluminum … up 23.9%.

Metals and precious metals were among the fastest-growing Canuck exports. The Canadian automotive industry also received a boost in 2010, with passenger vehicle export sales up 43% from 2009. Even the long-suffering Canadian lumber industry posted a robust 28% gain in 2009.

These statistics show Canada’s resiliency in rebounding from global setbacks, even when Canada’s largest trade partner the U.S. continues to suffer from major economic challenges.

The Canadian economy is so diversified and rich in natural resources that exporters can quickly adapt to changes in global demand.