Canada’s trade deficit rose to C$5.7 billion in February 2026 from the upwardly revised C$4.2 billion in January and worse than the expected C$2.3 billion shortfall. This marked the widest trade gap since August 2025, as total imports surged 8.4% to a record high of C$72.1 billion, led by a 45.6% jump in purchases of metal and non-metallic mineral products, particularly gold in the United States. Imports also increased markedly for energy products (20.1%); metal ores and non-metallic minerals (17.6%); and basic and industrial chemical, plastic and rubber products (8.2%). Exports rose 6.4% to C$66.3 billion, the highest since March 2025, mainly on the back of shipments of motor vehicles and parts (24.2%); unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals, and their alloys (14.2%) and fishing and intermediate food products (10.5%). Canada’s trade surplus with the US shrank to C$1.7B, the lowest since May 2020, from C$4.9 billion in January, as imports surged 13.6% and exports rose 4.4%. source: Statistics Canada

Canada recorded a trade deficit of 5740 CAD Million in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in Canada averaged 1029.61 CAD Million from 1971 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 8554.40 CAD Million in January of 2001 and a record low of -7530.20 CAD Million in April of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Canada Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Canada Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Canada recorded a trade deficit of 5740 CAD Million in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in Canada is expected to be -2100.00 CAD Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Canada Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 1300.00 CAD Million in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-12 12:30 PM
Balance of Trade
Jan C$-3.65B C$-1.3B C$-0.9B C$-0.9B
2026-04-02 12:30 PM
Balance of Trade
Feb C$-5.74B C$-4.18B C$-2.3B C$-1.8B
2026-05-05 12:30 PM
Balance of Trade
Mar C$-5.74B C$ -3.4B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -5740.00 -4180.00 CAD Million Feb 2026
Capital Flows 3682.00 -9479.00 CAD Million Dec 2025
Current Account -700.00 -5300.00 CAD Million Dec 2025
Current Account to GDP -1.40 -0.50 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 66310.00 62320.00 CAD Million Feb 2026
External Debt 4795130.00 4692066.00 CAD Million Dec 2025
Foreign Direct Investment 25130.00 17460.00 CAD Million Dec 2025
Imports 72050.00 66500.00 CAD Million Feb 2026
Oil Exports 9784.90 9747.20 CAD Million Feb 2026
Terms of Trade 101.60 103.30 points Feb 2026
Tourist Arrivals 1404733.00 2069120.00 Jan 2026


Canada Balance of Trade
Between 1980 and 2008, Canada recorded a positive trade balance every year, with an expectation of 1991 and 1992. From 2009 onwards, the trade balance shifted to a deficit. In 2021, it switched again to a trade surplus, with energy products making the largest share of exports. The United States remains the country's biggest trading partner.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-5740.00 -4180.00 8554.40 -7530.20 1971 - 2026 CAD Million Monthly
SA

News Stream
Canada Posts Larger-than-Expected Trade Gap
Canada’s trade deficit rose to C$5.7 billion in February 2026 from the upwardly revised C$4.2 billion in January and worse than the expected C$2.3 billion shortfall. This marked the widest trade gap since August 2025, as total imports surged 8.4% to a record high of C$72.1 billion, led by a 45.6% jump in purchases of metal and non-metallic mineral products, particularly gold in the United States. Imports also increased markedly for energy products (20.1%); metal ores and non-metallic minerals (17.6%); and basic and industrial chemical, plastic and rubber products (8.2%). Exports rose 6.4% to C$66.3 billion, the highest since March 2025, mainly on the back of shipments of motor vehicles and parts (24.2%); unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals, and their alloys (14.2%) and fishing and intermediate food products (10.5%). Canada’s trade surplus with the US shrank to C$1.7B, the lowest since May 2020, from C$4.9 billion in January, as imports surged 13.6% and exports rose 4.4%.
2026-04-02
Canada Trade Deficit Widens More Than Expected
Canada’s trade deficit widened to C$3.6 billion in January 2026 from a C$1.3 billion deficit in December and way more than the expected C$0.9 deficit. Exports fell 4.7% m/m to C$62.48 billion, with motor vehicle and parts exports down 21.2% as production stoppages affected passenger car shipments, while aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts decreased 16.0%. These declines were partly offset by a 4.1% increase in energy product exports, driven by natural gas. Exports to the US decreased 3.8%. Imports decreased 1.1% to C$66.13 billion, led by lower imports of motor vehicles and parts (-4.5%) and electronic and electrical equipment and parts (-3.6%), even as imports of industrial machinery, equipment and parts rose 3.4%. As a result, Canada’s surplus with the US narrowed to C$5.4 billion, while the deficit with countries other than the US widened to C$9.0 billion.
2026-03-12
Canada Trade Deficit Shrinks More Than Expected
Canada’s trade deficit narrowed to C$1.31 billion in December 2025 from a C$2.58 billion deficit in November and beating expectations for a C$2.1 billion deficit. Exports rose 2.6% m/m to C$65.63 billion, with metal and non-metallic mineral exports up 18.0% as unwrought gold and related shipments rebounded, while aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts jumped 20.5% to a record high. These gains were partly offset by a 1.0% decline in energy product exports. Exports to the US increased 1.1%. Imports increased 0.6% to C$66.93 billion, led by higher imports of motor vehicles and parts (+5.1%) and metal and non-metallic mineral products (+7.7%), even as consumer-goods imports fell 4.5%. As a result, Canada’s surplus with the US narrowed to C$5.7 billion, while the deficit with countries other than the US narrowed to C$7.0 billion.
2026-02-19