Saskatchewan Leads Provinces in Merchandise Exports in March

Released on May 4, 2021

Merchandise export numbers released by Statistics Canada today ranks Saskatchewan first among the provinces for merchandise exports, with a 26.1 per cent increase (seasonally unadjusted) for March compared to February 2021.

In the first three months of 2021, Saskatchewan's merchandise exports increased by 13.6 per cent, compared to the same period last year.  Overall, the province's merchandise exports increased year-over-year by 14.1 per cent.

"Saskatchewan continues to see strong export numbers, as we have the food, fuel and fertilizer the world needs," Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said.  "We are an exporting province and with trade being an integral part of our economy, it will continue to play an essential role as our Government supports our export sectors and delivers a resilient economic recovery coming out of the global COVID-19 pandemic."

Saskatchewan's metal and non-metallic mineral products led the country, outperforming the other provinces on a percentage basis with a 143.6 per cent increase year-to-date, and a 190.6 per cent increase year-over-year in March 2021 compared to March 2020.

Large gains year-over-year were also made in a number of Saskatchewan's key commodity sectors, including forestry products and building and packaging materials up 77.9 per cent, energy products up 36.2 per cent, and farm and intermediate food products up 19.2 per cent.

Export sales for March were more than $3.1 billion, up almost 14 per cent year-to-date.

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