Alberta Agriculture Statistics Yearbook, 2012
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Alberta’s largest manufacturing employer in 2012 was fabricated metal product industries at 21,600 persons or 15.6 per cent
of total manufacturing employees (138,500 persons). Tied for second largest were food and beverage industries and
machinery industries both at 19,700 persons or 14.2 per cent. The largest food segment remains meat product (including
poultry) manufacturing which accounted for 6,800 persons or 38.2 per cent of total food employees (17,800 persons).
Alberta’s food and beverage manufacturing industries experienced its highest level of employment in 2002 at 28,700
persons. During the next decade, employment generally trended downward. By 2012, the level dropped to 19,700 persons,
a decrease of 7.9 per cent from 2011. This latest decline was entirely due to a 9.2 per cent decrease in food industries
(17,800
persons). Most of this decline was attributable to lower employment in meat product (including poultry) industries
(
down 27.7 percent). In contrast, all other food industries combined reported an increase of 7.8 per cent. Beverage
industries experienced growth in jobs, up 5.6 per cent to total 1,900 persons.
Exports of Food and Food Products (Food and Beverage Products and Animal Feeds)
Following an increase of 19.0 per cent in 2011, Alberta’s agri-food exports increased 14.3 per cent in 2012 to total a record
$9.2 billion. Agri-food exports were distributed among primary commodities (animals and crops) at $5.5 billion (or 60.0 per
cent) and value added products (food products, beverage products and animal feeds; and crude animal and plant products)
at $3.7 billion (or 40.0 per cent). In 2012, higher prices contributed to an increase of 22.3 per cent in exports of primary
commodities. This compares to a 38.6 per cent gain recorded in 2011. Exports of value added products also grew in 2012,
but at a slower pace of 4.0 per cent. The 2011 rate of increase was much smaller at 0.8 per cent.
From 2009 to 2011, the level of Alberta’s exports of food and food products was about $2.5 billion each year. In 2012,
exports increased 2.2 per cent to $2.6 billion. These exports accounted for about 28.1 per cent of total provincial agri-food
exports ($9.2 billion). This proportion compares to an average of 53.1 per cent reported from 2003 to 2005. Meat and meat
products exports continue to represent the largest proportion of food and food products exports. In 2012, these exports
totaled $1.3 billion or 50.1 per cent. Ranking second largest, were exports of animal feeds ($379.4 million or 14.6 per cent),
followed by oils and fats exports ($266.1 million or 10.3 per cent). Combined, these top three exports accounted for 75.0 per
cent of Alberta’s total food and food products exports in 2012.
Distribution of 2012 Alberta Food and Food Products Exports, $2.6 billion:
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Meat and Meat Products, $1.3 billion (50.1 per cent)
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Beef and Veal, $852.1 million (32.9 per cent)
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Pork, $365.0 million (14.1 per cent)
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Horse, $45.9 million (1.8 per cent)
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Other (Sheep, Poultry, Bison), $12.0 million (0.5 per cent)
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Processed Meat, $23.0 million (0.9 per cent)
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Animal Feeds, $379.4 million (14.6 per cent)
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Oils and Fats (excludes crude canola oil), $266.1 million (10.3 per cent)
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Cereals, Milled and Prepared, $259.1 million (10.0 per cent)
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Processed Potatoes, $203.3 million (7.9 per cent)
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Other Food and Food Materials, $106.1 million (4.1 per cent).
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Beverage Products, $77.7 million (3.0 per cent)
Following a decline of 4.4 per cent in 2011, exports of meat and meat products fell a further 10.1 per cent in 2012 to $1.3
billion. This compares to record levels of just over $1.9 billion reported in both 2004 and 2005. Beef and veal exports were
down for the second successive year, decreasing 12.1 per cent to $852.1 million in 2012. Following three consecutive
annual increases, exports of pork dropped 11.3 per cent to $365.0 million. Partially offsetting these decreases was a
significant gain in exports of processed meat. Moving from $9.0 million in 2011, exports more than doubled in 2012 to total
$23.0 million. This was the highest level reported in the last decade.