Saskatchewan’s agricultural exports set a record for the third straight year in 2013, the government said.
Sales totalled $11.7 billion, up five percent from 2012.
“A third consecutive year of record exports is another example of how agriculture continues to drive the provincial economy,” said agriculture minister Lyle Stewart.
The province’s agriculture exports account for 23 percent of Canada’s $50.4 billion total. They also represent more than one-third of all provincial exports.
The top three commodities were non-durum wheat at $2.1 billion in sales, canola seed also worth $2.1 billion and canola oil sales of $1.5 billion.
Business in particular markets was up substantially in 2013. Exports to India went up 54 percent, to the United States up 13.5 percent and China 5.5 percent.
The U.S., China and Japan are the top three export destinations.
Stewart said the grain transportation backlog threatens the progress in developing export markets.
“We will continue pushing for immediate action to solve this grain transportation crisis, including level of service agreements with reciprocal penalties and ultimately legislative measures if necessary,” he said.
