The year 2023 marked significant developments in Canada’s international trade landscape, with notable changes in the number and composition of trading enterprises. Statistics Canada’s latest release highlights both growth and shifts within the trade sector, influenced by factors such as enterprise size, geographical focus, and economic conditions.
In 2023, the number of enterprises engaged in exporting goods increased by 1.4%, reaching a total of 48,718. This is the highest level recorded since 2005. Similarly, the number of importing enterprises grew by 2.3% to 163,881. Large enterprises, defined as those with 500 or more employees, exhibited the most substantial year-over-year growth in both exporting (up 5.6%) and importing (up 6.2%).
The value of goods exported by large enterprises rose by 3.0% to $420.8 billion. In contrast, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) experienced an 8.6% decline in their export value, dropping to $282.5 billion. This decrease was primarily driven by medium-sized enterprises (100 to 499 employees). A parallel trend was observed in imports: large enterprises saw a 6.7% increase in the value of goods imported, while SMEs faced a 1.9% decrease.
Of the 181,273 Canadian enterprises that traded goods internationally in 2023, 17.3% were two-way traders, engaged in both exporting and importing. Large and medium-sized enterprises had a significantly higher propensity for two-way trade, with about half (50.5% and 47.1%, respectively) falling into this category, compared to only 15.5% of small enterprises. Two-way traders accounted for a 1.5% increase in the total value of international trade, reaching $1.3 trillion, which represents the majority of Canada’s international merchandise trade.
The number of enterprises exporting to the United States increased by 695, totaling 41,482 in 2023. However, there was a decline in the number of exporters to non-U.S. destinations for the fourth consecutive year, with significant reductions in exports to Africa and Asia. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine notably affected trade with Russia, resulting in 302 fewer exporters in 2023.
Conversely, exports to the Middle East saw a rise, with an increase in enterprises exporting to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Import activities also showed a regional shift, with a significant increase in enterprises importing goods from Asia, particularly from China and India. Over half of Canadian importers sourced goods from the Indo-Pacific region, while less than one-fifth of exporters targeted this market.
Ontario led the growth in the number of exporting establishments, particularly in services-producing sectors like retail trade, wholesale trade, and transportation. All Atlantic provinces experienced growth in the number of exporters, with New Brunswick at the forefront. In contrast, provinces like Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba saw declines, particularly in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sectors.
The number of importing establishments increased across various provinces, except for Newfoundland and Labrador. The health care and social assistance sectors, along with educational services, saw the most significant increases in the number of importers.
The majority of Canadian exporters (77.4%) and importers (77.3%) were located in census metropolitan areas (CMAs). Toronto, in particular, saw a notable rise in exporters, especially in the retail trade sector. Other Ontario CMAs, including Hamilton and Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo, also reported increases.
Trade values in CMAs showed growth, driven by the manufacturing sector, particularly motor vehicles. In contrast, trading establishments outside CMAs saw a decline in trade value. Additionally, importers in CMAs were more likely to diversify their supplier base, importing from multiple partner countries compared to their counterparts outside CMAs, with Montréal importers leading in this trend.