Canada imported US$404.3 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -10.8% from $453.2 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Canada’s main imported products categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to Canada’s most valuable imports during 2020 for each of Canada’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for over four-fifths (81.6%) of Canada’s import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Canadian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Canada’s Main Imports from the US

The United States and Canada share the world’s longest international long land border, facilitating trade between the two neighboring North American countries.

In 2020, America’s exports to Canada amounted to $197.1 billion or 48.8% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents a -14.2% drop since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 69.8% of Canada’s imports from the US.

Vehicles: $34.6 billion
Machinery: $27.8 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $16 billion
Plastics: $10.7 billion
Electronic equipment: $10.3 billion
Gems, precious metals: $5.2 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $4.9 billion
Paper: $4.3 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $4.2 billion
Iron or steel products: $4.09 billion
Other chemical goods: $4.07 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $3.5 billion
Iron and steel: $2.7 billion
Cereal, milk preparations: $2.51 billion
Other food preparations: $2.19 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the gems and precious metals product category (up 73.3%), pharmaceuticals (up 6.5%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 5%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 4.8%), and cereal or milk preparations (up 2%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -34.9%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -31%), vehicles (down -27.1%), machinery (down -15.7%), electronic equipment (down -15.1%), products made from iron or steel (down -14.2%), iron and steel materials (down -13.9%) and medical or technical equipment (down -13.1%).

Canada’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Canada amounted to $57 billion or 14.1% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents a 0.9% gain since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83.4% of Canada’s imports from the People’s Republic.

Electronic equipment: $13.6 billion
Machinery: $11.6 billion
Furniture, lighting, signs: $3.4 billion
Toys, games: $2.7 billion
Plastics: $2.6 billion
Other textiles, worn clothing: $2.5 billion
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $1.91 billion
Iron or steel products: $1.88 billion
Vehicles: $1.8 billion
Knit or crochet clothing: $1.3 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.1 billion
Rubber: $1 billion
Aluminum: $738.5 million
Footwear: $667 million
Organic chemicals: $634.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the other textiles including worn clothing product category (up 279.5%), rubber (up 30.1%), plastics (up 16.2%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (up 9.7%), aluminum (up 9.1%) and machinery (up 5.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were footwear (down -35.6%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -25.8%), products made from iron or steel (down -8.9%), vehicles (down -7.4%), electronic equipment (down -7.3%) and medical or technical equipment (down -2.2%).

Canada’s Main Imports from Mexico

In 2020, Mexico’s exports to Canada amounted to $22.3 billion or 6% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents a -20% drop since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.9% of Canada’s imports from Mexico.

Vehicles: $6.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $4.3 billion
Machinery: $4 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $919.1 million
Vegetables: $879.4 million
Fruits, nuts: $822.6 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $790 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $334.4 million
Plastics: $304.7 million
Iron or steel products: $269 million
Gems, precious metals: $222 million
Rubber: $214.1 million
Toys, games: $204.2 million
Beverages: $166 million
Pharmaceuticals: $154.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the gems and precious metals product category (up 89.9%), toys and games (up 25.9%), plastics as a material (up 7.3%), vegetables (up 5.2%), and fruits and nuts (up 2.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were pharmaceuticals (down -36.3%), vehicles (down -28.6%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -24.4%), rubber (down -18.4%), electronic equipment (down -16%), machinery (down -14%), items made from iron or steel (down -13.4%) and medical or technical equipment (down -10%).

Canada’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Canada amounted to $12.9 billion or 3.2% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents an -11% reduction since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87.1% of Canada’s imports from Germany.

Machinery: $3.2 billion
Vehicles: $2.2 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $2.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $933.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $790.5 million
Plastics: $349.5 million
Gems, precious metals: $331.2 million
Organic chemicals: $232.9 million
Iron or steel products: $206.6 million
Iron and steel: $201.6 million
Other chemical goods: $188.2 million
Rubber: $151.1 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $118.8 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $109.9 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $102.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the gems and precious metals product category (up 240.9%), aircraft and spacecraft (up 3.3%) and pharmaceuticals (up 0.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel (down -32.4%), vehicles (down -30.3%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -22.1%), rubber (down -17.7%), products made from iron or steel (down -13.6%), machinery (down -8.4%), plastics as a material (down -8.1%) and organic chemicals (down -6.7%).

Canada’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Canada amounted to $10.1 billion or 2.5% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents an -18.7% decline since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 93.9% of Canada’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $4 billion
Machinery: $2.3 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.2 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $381.2 million
Gems, precious metals: $292.7 million
Rubber: $267.9 million
Iron or steel products: $220.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $165.6 million
Organic chemicals: $121.4 million
Plastics: $121 million
Other chemical goods: $103.5 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $102.1 million
Iron and steel: $100.9 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $100.6 million
Other base metal goods: $50.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the organic chemicals product category (up 14.4%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 1.6%) then gems and precious metals (up 0.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -43.5%), medical or technical equipment (down -29.3%), pharmaceuticals (down -24.5%), electronic equipment (down -22.6%), machinery (down -22.3%), rubber (down -21.6%), miscellaneous goods made from base metal (down -20.3%), plastics as a material (down -10%) then aircraft and spacecraft (down -9.5%).

Canada’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Canada amounted to $7.2 billion or 1.8% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents a -1.4% slowdown since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 91.8% of Canada’s imports from South Korea.

Vehicles: $3 billion
Machinery: $803.2 million
Electronic equipment: $740.6 million
Ships, boats: $548.6 million
Iron and steel: $270.1 million
Plastics: $229.2 million
Iron or steel products: $197.9 million
Gems, precious metals: $162.3 million
Pharmaceuticals: $145.3 million
Rubber: $121.3 million
Other chemical goods: $120.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $70.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $69.6 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $67.4 million
Organic chemicals: $60.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the ships and boats product category (up 268,831%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 845.1%), gems and precious metals (up 185.5%), pharmaceuticals (up 141.2%) and organic chemicals (up 18.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -85.1%), electronic equipment (down -31%), rubber (down -30.9%), products made from iron or steel (down -17.7%), iron or steel as materials (down -15.5%) and plastics as a material (down -10.8%).

Canada’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Canada amounted to $6.7 billion or 1.7% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents a -5.8% drop since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 75.1% of Canada’s imports from Italy.

Machinery: $1.7 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $520.4 million
Beverages: $514.5 million
Vehicles: $347.9 million
Electronic equipment: $245.3 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $234.7 million
Gems, precious metals: $227.6 million
Iron and steel: $205.2 million
Footwear: $188.4 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $165.6 million
Iron or steel products: $157.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $145.2 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $145.2 million
Organic chemicals: $141.2 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $135.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the iron and steel product category (up 70.3%) then gems and precious metals (up 1.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -28.4%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -22.1%), medical and technical equipment (down -21.8%), articles made from leather or animal gut (down -19.7%), footwear (down -18.1%), vehicles (down -15%) then electronic equipment (down -14.2%).

Canada’s Main Imports from Vietnam

In 2020, Vietnam’s exports to Canada amounted to $6.1 billion or 1.5% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents a 15.5% increase since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.9% of Canada’s imports from Vietnam.

Electronic equipment: $2.2 billion
Knit or crochet clothing: $501.4 million
Machinery: $498.1 million
Footwear: $457.7 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $456.8 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $433.5 million
Fish: $157.3 million
Toys, games: $137 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $105.8 million
Iron or steel products: $95.7 million
Fruits, nuts: $91.3 million
Meat, seafood preparations: $91.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $82.9 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $79.7 million
Iron and steel: $76.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category (up 195.5%), electronic equipment (up 47%), products made from iron or steel (up 35.6%), toys and games (up 34.7%), machinery (also up 34.7%), meat or seafood preparations (up 25.1%) then furniture, lighting and signs (up 17.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel (down -30.5%), items made from leather and animal gut (down -28.8%), footwear (down -15.9%) then unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -13.5%).

Canada’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s exports to Canada amounted to $5.8 billion or 1.4% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents a -16.2% slowdown since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 85.3% of Canada’s imports from the United Kingdom.

Machinery: $1 billion
Gems, precious metals: $732.1 million
Vehicles: $658.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $580.3 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $513.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $259.8 million
Electronic equipment: $243.7 million
Beverages: $243.1 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $175 million
Other chemical goods: $161 million
Plastics: $99.4 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $77.5 million
Iron or steel products: $64 million
Iron and steel: $59.6 million
Books, newspapers, pictures: $57.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the gems and precious metals product category (up 344.2%), pharmaceuticals (up 6.1%), iron and steel (up 5.2%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 3.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -65.5%), vehicles (up down -44.8%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -36.6%), products made from iron or steel (down -30.2%), electronic equipment (down -23.9%), machinery (down -21.9%) then books, newspapers and pictures (down -17.9%).

Canada’s Main Imports from Brazil

In 2020, Brazil’s exports to Canada amounted to $4.9 billion or 1.2% of overall Canadian imports. That dollar amount represents a 20.6% gain since 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 91.7% of Canada’s imports from Brazil.

Gems, precious metals: $1.8 billion
Inorganic chemicals: $1.1 billion
Sugar: $310.2 million
Iron and steel: $270.4 million
Machinery: $215.9 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $121.2 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $120.4 million
Ores, slag, ash: $116.9 million
Woodpulp: $94.2 million
Electronic equipment: $93.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $81.7 million
Rubber: $46.2 million
Wood: $44.1 million
Organic chemicals: $36.4 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $31.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Canadian imports under the sugar product category (up 101.5%), gems and precious metals (up 90.8%), iron and steel (up 41.3%) and ores, slag and ash (up 27.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Canada’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -31.5%), salt, sulphur, stone and cement (down -28.7%), organic chemicals (down -27.1%), rubber (down -18.2%) then coffee, tea and spices (down -12.1%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Canada.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Canada’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries