Alberta Agriculture Statistics Yearbook, 2012
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Alberta Agri-Food Exports in 2012
Alberta exports of primary and processed agricultural and food products (agri-food) continued to grow in 2012, reaching a record $9.2
billion. These exports were 14.3 per cent higher than in 2011. Nationally, Alberta accounted for 21.0 per cent of the Canadian total, and
ranked the third largest exporter of agri-food products after Saskatchewan and Ontario.
Export Products
Exports of primary commodities
(
animals and crops), worth $5.5 billion, played a significant role in Alberta's strong export
performance. As in 2011, growth in these exports was driven largely by high commodity prices. As a result, commodity exports rose 22.3
per cent, while value added exports were up 4.0 per cent. The majority of value added exports was meat, followed by canola oil, oilseed
cake and meal, french fries and malt.
In the crop sector
,
substantial increases in exports were reported for all major grains, pulses and oilseeds, with the exception of
mustard seeds. Increases were reported in export values, as well as in quantities. Wheat exports rose 18.8 per cent in value to $2.3
billion in 2012, and quantity was up 21.1 per cent to 6.7 million tonnes. Major markets for wheat (ranked by quantity) were United States
(
US), Japan, Indonesia, Iraq and Mexico. Barley exports rose sharply by 56.7 per cent in value and 47.0 per cent in quantity. Exports of
canola seed reached a record $1.9 billion, up 13.4 per cent from 2011. The quantity of canola seed grew at a lower rate of 5.7 per cent to
3.0
million tonnes. China was the largest customer of canola seed, followed by Japan, traditionally the number one export market. Other
markets were Mexico and United Arab Emirates.
In the livestock sector
,
exports of live cattle (excluding purebred) recovered from the 2011 low, while beef exports declined. Owing to
good prices, the value of exported cattle rose 26.9 per cent to $588 million, and the number of cattle (383,821 head) was 14.2 per cent
higher than in 2011. Beef exports were down 21.5 per cent in quantity and 12.1 per cent in value (195,626 tonnes worth $852 million).
Lower exports of beef were reported for the United States, Mexico and Hong Kong, the top three customers of Alberta beef. As well,
exports of pork and live hogs were lower than in 2011.
Other export products
showing notable increases
in 2012 were dairy products, processed meats, ethyl alcohol, oilseed cake and meal,
refined and crude canola oil, animal feeds and malt.
Trading Partners
The leading export markets for Alberta agri-food products in 2012 were the United States, China, Japan, Mexico and South Korea.
Exports to these five countries were worth $6.8 billion, representing almost three-quarters of Alberta’s total agri-food exports.
The United States
continues to be Alberta's largest trading partner accounting for 32.2 per cent of Alberta total agri-food exports in 2012.
Exports to this market, worth almost $3.0 billion, rose 16.3 per cent from 2011. The US remains Alberta's sole export market for non-
purebred live cattle and hogs, and accounts for three-quarters of Alberta's total beef exports. In 2012, Alberta's exports of live cattle
(
excluding purebred) rose 28.0 per cent to $588 million, while beef declined 11.3 per cent to $581 million. Hog exports fell in value and
quantity, while pork was slightly higher. As in 2011, significant increases in exports were reported for barley, oats, dry peas, linseed, hay
and fodder and wheat.
Exports to China
reached $1.6 billion placing China as Alberta's second largest export market in 2012. Exports to this market rose
sharply by 75.7 per cent, mainly due to much higher exports of canola seed and crude canola oil. These two products combined, made
up 75.2 per cent of Alberta's total agri-food exports to China. Also, sharp increases in exports were reported for linseed, bovine semen,
wheat, oats, barley, dry peas and pork.
Exports to Japan
,
Alberta's third largest market in 2012, rose 14.9 per cent to $1.3 billion. Significant increases in exports were recorded
for ethyl alcohol, milled cereals, processed meat, crude canola oil, linseed, hay and fodder, among other products. Canola seed, at $537
million, remained the largest export, followed by wheat ($220 million). Pork, traditionally the second largest export to Japan, fell 7.3 per
cent and ranked the third largest in 2012.
Exports to Mexico,
Alberta's fourth largest market, fell 1.2 per cent to $633 million in 2012. Major exports to this market were canola
seed, wheat and beef. These three products combined represented 90.5 per cent of Alberta's total agri-food exports to this market. While
canola seed and wheat exports increased, beef exports declined.
Exports to South Korea
,
Alberta's fifth largest export market, fell 41.3 per cent to $174 million in 2012. This decline resulted mainly from
lower exports of wheat and pork. On a positive note, beef exports grew from $45,000 in 2011 to $7.4 million in 2012.
At the regional level
,
Alberta agri-food exports in 2012 were substantially higher to Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America.
The largest exports were reported for Asia, almost $4.0 billion or 43.0 per cent of Alberta’s total agri-food exports. The highest growth in
exports of 57.7 per cent was reported for Africa. In contrast, the largest decline of 27.7 per cent occurred in exports to Western Europe.
Also, exports to Oceania and Eastern Europe were lower than a year earlier.