Profiles of Canada’s leading canola markets
United States
Total export value (2022): CAD $6.9 billion
Market profile
One of the largest buyers of canola seed, oil and meal
Total annual vegetable oil consumption (2021): 18.9 MMT
Imports of Canadian canola (2022)
Seed: 480,106 MT, valued at CAD $343.9 million
Oil: 2.0 MMT, valued at CAD $4.96 billion
Meal: 2.9 MMT, valued at CAD $1.59 billion
Market trends
Canola is the number two edible oil in the country.
Seed imports peaked in 2008.
Oil imports hit a new record of 1.9 MMT in 2017.
Meal imports have grown significantly since a dip in 2009-2010 due to regulatory issues.
Economic benefits of importing Canadian canola
USD $5.4 billion/year in U.S. economic activity
13,250 US jobs
MT = metric tonnes
MMT = million metric tonnes
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database; The Economic Impact of Canadian-Grown Canola on the U.S. Economy: 2020 Update (LMC International, December 2020)
China
Total export value (2022): CAD $3.5 billion
Market profile
Number one vegetable oil consumer in the world
Total annual vegetable oil consumption (2021): 37.4 MMT
Consumption of Canadian canola (2022)
Seed: 2.17 MMT, valued at CAD $2.1 billion
Oil: 186,219 MT, valued at CAD $370 million
Meal: 1.7 MMT, valued at CAD $907 million
Market trends
Seed imports grew significantly from 2013 to 2018 before a market disruption began in 2019.
Meal imports were restricted from 2013 to 2016 when China implemented new registration requirements for Canadian processors exporting meal.
Economic benefits of importing Canadian canola
USD $3.6 billion of economic activity/year
16,150 jobs in China
MT = metric tonnes
MMT = million metric tonnes
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database; The Economic Impact of Canadian-Grown Canola on the Chinese Economy (LMC International, December 2013)
Canada
Market profile
Total annual vegetable oil consumption (2021): 1.64 MMT
Consumption of Canadian canola (2021)
Oil: 1,075,000 MT
Meal: 589,000 MT
Market trends
Canola oil is the #1 edible oil for Canadian consumers, accounting for more than half of all vegetable oil consumed in Canada.
Oil consumption continues to rise.
Biofuel is the newest Canadian market opportunity.
Economic benefits to Canada
CAD $29.9 billion of economic activity/year
207,000 Canadian jobs
MT = metric tonnes
MMT = million metric tonnes
Source: The Economic Impact of Canola on the Canadian Economy: 2020 Update (LMC International, December 2020)
Japan
Total export value (2022): CAD $1.4 billion
Market profile
Our most consistent seed customer
Total annual vegetable oil consumption (2021): 2.5 MMT
Consumption of Canadian canola (2022)
Seed: 1.2 MMT, valued at CAD $1.4 billion
Oil: 20,402 MT, valued at CAD $44 million
Market trends
Seed imports are consistently around 2 million metric tonnes/year.
MT = metric tonnes
MMT = million metric tonnes
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database
EU
Total export value (2022): CAD $298.9 million
Market profile
World leader in biodiesel consumption
Consumption of Canadian canola (2021)
Seed: 309,690 MT, valued at CAD $298.6 million
Market trends
Seed exports primarily go to France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Portugal for use in biodiesel production.
MMT = million metric tonnes
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database
Mexico
Total export value (2022): CAD $1.6 billion
Market profile
A consistent buyer of Canadian canola seed
Total annual vegetable oil consumption (2021): 3.0 MMT
Consumption of Canadian canola (2022)
Seed: 1.1 million MT, valued at CAD $1.2 billion
Oil: 187,382 MT, valued at CAD $436.1 million
Meal: 5,671 MT, valued at CAD $2.1 million
Market trends
Canola is Canada’s top agri-food export to Mexico.
Canola oil and meal consumption have both risen over the past five years.
Economic benefits of importing Canadian canola
MXN $21.9 billion/year in economic activity
7,100 jobs in Mexico
MT = metric tonnes
MMT = million metric tonnes
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database; The Economic Impact of Canadian-Grown Canola on the Mexican Economy (LMC International, March 2017)
Top 20 markets for Canadian canola
Canadian canola exports – 2022 calendar year
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database
Updated: April 28, 2023
| Total Value (CAD $) | Seed Exports (MT) | Oil Exports (MT) | Meal Exports (MT) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL EXPORTS TO ALL MARKETS | $14.4 billion | 5,651,368 | 2,586,986 | 4,658,485 |
| United States | $6.9 billion | 480,106 | 2,005,864 | 2,931,027 |
| China | $3.5 billion | 2,168,765 | 186,219 | 1,714,384 |
| Mexico | $1.6 billion | 1,074,463 | 187,382 | 5,671 |
| Japan | $1.4 billion | 1,235,492 | 20,402 | 0 |
| EU | $298.9 million | 309,690 | 146 | 0 |
| Pakistan | $239.7 million | 267,016 | 0 | 0 |
| Korea, South | $193.2 million | 4,036 | 97,870 | 0 |
| Chile | $98.8 million | 17 | 53,931 | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | $56.6 million | 56,290 | 3,046 | 0 |
| Bangladesh | $44.9 million | 52,583 | 33 | 0 |
| Taiwan | $18.9 million | 0 | 10,020 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | $17.1 million | 0 | 8,445 | 0 |
| Colombia | $14.1 million | 237 | 7,961 | 0 |
| Australia | $5.8 million | 1,408 | 27 | 0 |
| United Kingdom | $2.8 million | 0 | 0 | 7,000 |
| Saudi Arabia | $1.5 million | 0 | 654 | 0 |
| Qatar | $1.4 million | 0 | 610 | 0 |
| Philippines | $1.4 million | 113 | 349 | 0 |
| New Zealand | $1.3 million | 0 | 642 | 0 |
| Lebanon | $1.1 million | 0 | 479 | 0 |
