Canada’s energy production increased in April as higher crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum output drove gains across most major energy sectors, while exports of petroleum products and crude oil reached record or multi-year highs.
Primary energy production totalled 2.1 million gigajoules in April, up 4.1 percent from the same month last year. Five of the six major energy subsectors posted annual increases.
Refined petroleum production rose 3.9 percent to 9.2 million cubic metres, the highest April level since the current data series began in 2019. Production gains were led by distillate fuel oil, which increased 16.3 percent, and kerosene-type jet fuel, up 37.4 percent. Finished motor gasoline production fell 4.0 percent.
Exports of refined petroleum products climbed 69.7 percent to a record 2.3 million cubic metres. Distillate fuel oil exports increased 64.7 percent, finished motor gasoline exports jumped 184.9 percent, and kerosene-type jet fuel exports rose 171.6 percent.
Domestic demand moved in the opposite direction. Consumption of refined petroleum products declined 4.7 percent from a year earlier, while imports dropped 51.8 percent.
Crude oil and equivalent production continued to grow, rising 4.2 percent to 26.0 million cubic metres. It was the 11th straight month of year over year increases.
Oil sands production remained the main driver. Output reached 16.6 million cubic metres as synthetic crude oil production increased 14.8 percent. Lower levels of spring maintenance compared with April 2025 supported the gain. Production of crude bitumen fell 2.0 percent to 10.1 million cubic metres.
Production outside the oil sands also strengthened. Conventional oil output increased 5.2 percent to 6.7 million cubic metres, led by offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, where production rose 26.4 percent to 1.5 million cubic metres. It was the province’s highest monthly offshore production since March 2020.
Crude oil exports rose 11.4 percent to 21.6 million cubic metres, the largest annual increase since May 2021. Pipeline exports to the United States increased 8.8 percent, while marine shipments to Asia and Europe climbed 46.6 percent as disruptions to Middle Eastern crude supplies continued during April.
Natural gas production also increased, rising 6.9 percent to 718.3 million gigajoules. British Columbia recorded a 16.3 percent increase, while Alberta posted a 1.9 percent gain.
Canadian natural gas deliveries rose 2.5 percent. Alberta accounted for much of the increase as colder weather than a year earlier lifted provincial demand by 5.9 percent.
Natural gas exports increased 7.0 percent to 298.6 million gigajoules, while imports declined 12.2 percent to 78.1 million gigajoules.
Electricity generation reached 50.2 million megawatt-hours in April, up 2.7 percent from a year earlier. Higher hydroelectric generation, up 5.4 percent, and combustible generation, up 8.1 percent, more than offset lower output from nuclear, wind and solar facilities.
Electricity exports to the United States increased 33.5 percent to 3.4 million megawatt-hours. Imports rose 14.4 percent to 2.0 million megawatt-hours.