The value of Canada’s agricultural exports fell by $3.7 billion in 2009 as the impact of lower commodity prices and a lingering global recession affected producers and export companies.
It was an 8.8 percent drop, falling from $40.9 billion in 2008 to $37.2 billion last year.
Statistics Canada figures included:
- A $1 billion or 15 percent drop in the value of wheat exports
- A $248 million or 36 percent reduction in the value of barley exports
- A $404 million or 10.4 percent reduction in the value of canola and rapeseed exports
- A $685 million or 29 percent reduction in the value of live animal exports
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Other reductions related to the agriculture industry but not included in agricultural export statistics included a decline of $2.9 billion or 39 percent in the value of fertilizer exports, a reduction of $3.5 billion or 48 percent in the export value of trucks and other motor vehicles, and a drop of $127 million or 5.8 percent in the value of tractor and agricultural machinery exports.
While 2009 export statistics paint a bleak picture, there are signs of recovery in some sectors.
For example, Canada’s fertilizer sector is gaining momentum after watching the value of exports drop dramatically.
In January 2010, the value of fertilizer and fertilizer-related exports rose to $489 million, an increase of $67 million or 16 percent from the previous month.
In November 2008, the monthly value of Canadian fertilizer exports peaked at nearly $1.1 billion.
Five months later, in April 2009, monthly export values had dropped to $243 million.
