Statistics Canada reports $1.5B trade deficit for February as exports fell

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This article was published 03/04/2025 (248 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – The country’s merchandise trade balance fell to a deficit of $1.5 billion in February as exports fell, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

The federal agency said the result compared with a surplus of $3.1 billion in January.

CIBC senior economist Katherine Judge said a tariff front-running boost to exports reversed sharply in February, causing Canada’s trade balance to swing to a deficit.

The trade report came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced new reciprocal tariffs on many countries around the world, sparking concerns of a global recession.

“Looking ahead, although USMCA goods were exempt from tariffs in March, U.S. businesses appear to have accumulated enough inventory in prior months, and exports will remain under pressure as a result,” Judge wrote in a report.

“Export demand will also be dented for autos, steel/aluminum, and lumber, which are subject to previously announced tariffs, despite Canada escaping the reciprocal tariffs. Moreover, a higher effective tariff rate on U.S. imports as a whole will work to slow U.S. and global growth and will weigh on export demand for Canada ahead.”

Statistics Canada said total Canadian exports dropped 5.5 per cent to $70.1 billion in February as exports of energy products fell 6.3 per cent. 

Exports of crude oil fell 4.2 per cent on lower prices, while refined petroleum product exports dropped 15.3 per cent due to lower shipments of diesel, mainly to the United States and Panama. Coal exports plunged 26.9 per cent and natural gas exports lost 8.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, total imports gained 0.8 per cent at $71.6 billion in February, boosted by a 5.8 per cent increase in imports of motor vehicles and parts and a 3.1 per cent increase in industrial machinery, equipment and parts.

In volume terms, total exports dropped five per cent in February, while total imports in volume terms were essentially unchanged for the month.

Regionally, Canadian exports to the U.S. were down 3.6 per cent in February after reaching a record high in January, while imports from the U.S. rose 2.5 per cent resulting in a merchandise trade surplus with the U.S. of $10.6 billion in February compared with a record of $13.7 billion in January.

Canada’s exports to countries other than the U.S. fell 12.4 per cent in February, while imports from countries other than the U.S. moved down two per cent for a record trade deficit with countries other than the U.S. of $12.1 billion in February compared with a deficit of $10.6 billion in January.

In a separate report, Statistics Canada said the country’s monthly international trade in services deficit increased to $700 million in February compared with $600 million in January as exports of services fell 1.6 per cent to $17.7 billion and imports of services dropped 0.8 per cent to $18.3 billion.

When international trade in goods and services are combined, Canada’s trade balance with the world was a deficit of $2.2 billion in February compared with a surplus of $2.6 billion in January.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2025.