Canada shipped US$569 billion worth of exported products around the globe in 2024. That dollar amount results from a 45.9% advance compared to $389.9 billion over the 5-year period starting in 2020.
Year over year, the total value of Canada’s exported goods flatlined via a 0.1% upturn from $568.4 billion one year prior in 2023.
Canadian exports represent about 2.4% of the value for the world’s total exported goods (global sum US$23.652 trillion calculated for 2023). That percentage exceeds the 2.3% for Canada’s exports divided by the worldwide total one year prior.
Importers in Russia spent US$37.3 million on products exported from Canada in 2024. That dollar amount is a consequence from a modest 3.8% increase from $36 million worth of Canadian shipments in 2023.
In comparison, Ukraine bought $345.2 million in products imported from Canada during 2024, declining by -11% from $387.8 million during the previous year.
Applying a continental lens, over three-quarters (77.6%) of Canada exports by value was delivered to fellow North American countries while 10.6% was sold to importers in Asia. Canada shipped another 9.2% worth of goods to buyers in Europe.
Smaller percentages were sold to customers in Latin America (1.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.7%) then Oceania (0.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Canada’s Top Trading Partners
Below is a list showcasing 15 of Canada’s top trading partners, countries that imported the greatest Canadian shipments by dollar value during 2024. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Canadian exports.
- United States: US$435 billion (76.5% of total Canadian exports)
- mainland China: $21.7 billion (3.8%)
- United Kingdom: $20.7 billion (3.6%)
- Japan: $10.9 billion (1.9%)
- Mexico: $6.3 billion (1.1%)
- South Korea: $5.6 billion (1%)
- Netherlands: $5.1 billion (0.9%)
- Germany: $4.9 billion (0.9%)
- Switzerland: $4.6 billion (0.8%)
- India: $3.9 billion (0.7%)
- France: $3.2 billion (0.6%)
- Belgium: $2.72 billion (0.5%)
- Hong Kong: $2.7 billion (0.5%)
- Italy: $2.4 billion (0.4%)
- Australia: $2.3 billion (0.4%)
By revenue, over nine-tenths (93.5%) of Canadian exports in 2024 was delivered to the above 15 trade partners.
Double-digit increases among Canada’s top trade partners belong to buyers in the United Kingdom (up 96.7% from 2023), Switzerland (up 33.3%) then Italy (up 19.4%).
Year over year, the severest decliners in terms of consuming Canadian exports were importers in Hong Kong (down -25.1% from 2023), Belgium (down -11.3%) and Japan (down -7%).
Countries Causing Canada’s Biggest Trade Deficits
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
Canada incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- mainland China: -US$42.3 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2024)
- Mexico: -$28 billion
- Germany: -$12.2 billion
- Vietnam: -$9.9 billion
- South Korea: -$6.7 billion
- Italy: -$6.6 billion
- Brazil: -$5.6 billion
- Japan: -$4.3 billion
- Canada: -$4 billion
- France: -$3.9 billion
Among Canada’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Canadian deficits with Brazil (up 48.3%), South Korea (up 29.6%) and Japan (up 20.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Canada’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Canada to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
Countries Generating Canada’s Best Trade Surpluses
Canada recorded an overall US$14.8 billion trade surplus for 2024, expanding by 60.7% from $9.2 billion in black ink one year earlier in 2023.
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
Canada incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.
- United States: US$160.6 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2024)
- United Kingdom: $13.7 billion
- Hong Kong: $2.5 billion
- Netherlands: $1.8 billion
- United Arab Emirates: $1.3 billion
- Norway: $1 billion
- Algeria: $863.5 million
- Singapore: $544.7 million
- Panama: $360.9 million
- Bonaire, St Eustatius, Saba: $280.8 million
Among Canada’s trading partners that cause the greatest positive trade balances, Canadian surpluses with the United Kingdom (up 290.8%), Singapore (up 153%) and the United Arab Emirates (up 38.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Canada’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Canada to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Companies Servicing Canadian Trading Partners
Almost 60 Canadian corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major Canadian companies that Forbes included.
- Agrium (specialized chemicals)
- Canadian Natural Resources (oil, gas)
- Enbridge (oil services, equipment)
- Husky Energy (oil, gas)
- Magna International (auto parts, accessories)
- Potash of Saskatchewan (specialized chemicals)
- Suncor Energy (oil, gas)
- Teck Resources (diversified metals)
According to Canadian Exports online directory, the following are examples of smaller entrepreneurial companies that ship products from Canada to its trading partners around the globe. Shown within parenthesis is the product category that the Canadian business specializes in.
- A.S. Chemical Laboratories Inc. (pharmaceuticals)
- Aerospace Metal Finishing Inc. (plated surface finishes)
- Centennial Solar (solar panels)
- C-I-L Explosives (specialty explosives)
- Ciment Quebec Inc. (cement)
- Control Skateboards (customized skateboards)
- Cormer Group Industries Inc. (aircraft components)
- Hi-Pro Feeds (animal nutrition products)
- International Play Company (indoor/outdoor play structures)
- Lafleur Industries Inc. (truck chassis, parts)
- Netchem Inc. (specialized chemicals)
- Seven Star Sports (designer safety helmets)
See also Canada’s Top 10 Imports, Canada’s Top 10 Exports, Top Canadian Trade Balances and Canada’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on March 1, 2025
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on March 1, 2025
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 1, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 1, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 1, 2025
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on March 1, 2025
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on March 1, 2025