Is Canada a net importer of exporter of food? (how much, stores)

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Of course, Canada doesn't raise as much of its own food as the U.S. does due to climate differences, but on the whole does it import or export more food?

[Zoisite]

Canada imports more than it exports. Here are the statistics: Canadian Trade Data by Country and Product

.

[barneyg]

Originally Posted by Zoisite

Canada imports more than it exports. Here are the statistics: Canadian Trade Data by Country and Product

.

hmmm, your link shows we had $35.86 billion in imports and $47.68 billion in exports in 2012. We export huge amounts of grain.

[netwit]

We export more food than we import. I don't think we've ever imported more than we export. Canada

As barneyg says, we export a lot of grain. We export as well a lot of hay to the US. We import to Russia to the point where the Russian sanctions on Canadian food imports, hurts us. Canadian businesses brace for more Russian import bans - The Globe and Mail

In fact, according to StatsCan, in 2009, we imported 57% of our food imports from the US and 55% of our food exports were to the US. Pretty much even-steven right there along the food import/export Canada-US line. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/16-201-...artie1-eng.htm

[Jesse44]

I've been surprised by the variety of produce we get in our big grocery stores compared to those in European countries. I never realized how much tropical fruit we have available at all times compared to say, Germany or Spain. I guess that's one benefit from our rather cold climate; having to import more variety to keep things interesting enough.

[Zoisite]

I guess I'm reading the stats wrong or am misunderstanding what I'm reading. I was going by the percentages for All Countries.

Exports = 2.73%

Imports = 4.82%

I interpreted that to mean that taken altogether we import more than we export.

.

[netwit]

Originally Posted by Zoisite

I guess I'm reading the stats wrong or am misunderstanding what I'm reading. I was going by the percentages for All Countries.

Exports = 2.73%

Imports = 4.82%

I interpreted that to mean that taken altogether we import more than we export.

.

Well, I guess I don't know what that means but I know that Canada is a net exporter of food. I was trying to find a link that regarding whether we had ever been a net importer and came across this historical link but it lists exports by product. Canada's leading domestic exports, fiscal years 1890, 1900, 1910,1920, 1930, and 1936

[barneyg]

Originally Posted by Zoisite

I guess I'm reading the stats wrong or am misunderstanding what I'm reading. I was going by the percentages for All Countries.

Exports = 2.73%

Imports = 4.82%

I interpreted that to mean that taken altogether we import more than we export.

.

That's the growth rate over 2008-2012. Means our net trade food balance is declining but it's still way positive.