NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2011TTI0031-000241 March 10, 2011

Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Investment

 

B.C.’S EXPORTS START YEAR WITH A 21 PER CENT JUMP

 

VICTORIA – 2011 is off to a roaring start for British Columbia’s exporters and manufacturers as January’s domestic exports topped more than $2.4 billion, an increase of more than $410 million or nearly 21 per cent compared with January 2010.

 

            Leading the way were exports of B.C.’s forestry products, up by 21 per cent over January 2010 to total $691 million. Increases were also recorded in exports of energy products, up by 10 per cent; industrial goods, up by 58 per cent; and agricultural and fishing products, up by nearly 11 per cent.

            Asia again demonstrated its growing importance to B.C.’s economy with domestic exports to the continent worth $977 million for the month, a 37 per cent increase compared with January 2010. Exports to China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan were all up by more than 20 percent with China recording a 79 per cent year-over-year gain.

 

            B.C.’s domestic exports to the United States in January were worth $1.09 billion, a three per cent increase over one year ago. Strong gains were also recorded to European countries, led by deliveries to the United Kingdom and Germany, along with Mexico.

 

            January’s export numbers were released today by Statistics Canada as part of their monthly Canadian International Merchandise Trade report. Overall, Canadian domestic exports were worth $34.1 billion for the month, a 12 per cent increase compared with January 2010.

           

            In 2010, domestic exports from British Columbia were worth $28.7 billion, a near 15 per cent increase over the previous year. Forty-one per cent of B.C.’s exports in 2010 were shipped to Asia, the highest percentage of any Canadian province.

 

Quote:

 

Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment:

 

“It’s very encouraging B.C. recorded strong export numbers to kick-off 2011. January’s positive growth builds on the gains British Columbia recorded throughout last year. These export numbers powerfully demonstrate the importance of Asia to B.C’s economy.”   

 

 

Quick Facts:

 

B.C. domestic exports by sector in January 2011, compared with January 2010:

·         Agricultural and fishing products – $150 million, up by 11 per cent

·         Energy products – $683 million, up 10 per cent

·         Forestry Products – $691 million, up by 21 per cent

·         Industrial goods – $572 million, up by 58 per cent

·         Machinery and equipment – $225 million, up by three per cent

·         Consumer goods – $40 million, down by 10 per cent

·         Automotive products – $23 million, up by 10 per cent

 

B.C. domestic exports in January 2011 to select countries, compared with January 2010:

·         United States – $1.09 billion, up by three per cent

·         Japan – $377 million, up by 24 per cent

·         China – $297 million, up by 79 per cent

·         South Korea – $169 million, up by 26 per cent

·         Taiwan – $60 million, up by 25 per cent

·         United Kingdom – $33 million, up by 191 per cent

·         Italy – $30 million, down by 32 per cent

·         Germany – $21.5 million, up by 84 per cent

·         Hong Kong – $17 million, up by two per cent

·         India – $3 million, down by 60 per cent

·         Mexico – $10 million, up by 12 per cent

 

Learn More:

Statistics Canada: Canadian International Merchandise Trade report – January 2011: http://bit.ly/gpAejz

Statistics Canada: International Trade Merchandise Trade Database: http://bit.ly/fMilcb

 

Trade British Columbia: https://trade.britishcolumbia.ca

 

BC Stats Exports Page http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/pubs/pr_expt.asp

 

Contact:

Ben James

Public Affairs Officer

Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Investment

250 356-8177

 

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