The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
June 08, 2021NOVA SCOTIA - INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE APRIL 2021 With April 2021 reference month results, year-over-year (Apr 2021 vs Apr 2020) and year-to-date (Jan-Apr 21 vs Jan-Apr 20) are beginning to show the rebounds in economic activity from the unprecedented declines observed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
TREND NOVA SCOTIA AND CANADA (Year over year, customs-basis, unadjusted)
Nova Scotia international merchandise exports were $508.3 million in April 2021, an increase of 66.4% compared to April 2020. Nova Scotia export shipments were above pre-pandemic levels from April 2019. Canada merchandise exports increased 49.1% in April 2021 compared to April 2020.
Year-over-year (Apr 2021 vs. Apr 2020)
International merchandise exports were higher in all provinces in April 2021 with the largest increase in New Brunswick (+134.6%) with the smallest increase in Prince Edward Island (+7.1%).
Year-to-Date (Jan-Apr 2021 vs Jan-Apr 2020, customs-basis, unadjusted)
Over the first four months of 2021, Nova Scotia exports have totalled $1,832.5 million, an increase of 16.4% compared to the first four months of 2020. Year-to-date exports from Nova Scotia were 0.5% below the pre-pandemic 2019 level which had reached $1,840.8 million in the first four months of that year.
On a year-to-date comparison, New Brunswick (+37.4%) had the largest increase and Prince Edward Island (-7.6%) had the only decline. 
Nova Scotia Year-to-Date by Sector (Jan-Apr 2021 vs Jan-Apr 2020, customs-basis, unadjusted)
The largest dollar increase in year-to-date exports has been in farm, fishing and intermediate food products (+$113.8 million, +36.7%) and forestry, building and packaging material (+$68.2 million, 42.6%).
The largest dollar decrease in year-to-date exports has been in chemical, plastic and rubber products (-$16.5 million, -17.7%) and transportation equipment ($11.4 million, -45.9%).
Nova Scotia Year-to-Date by Country (Jan-Apr 2021 vs Jan-Apr 2020, customs-basis, unadjusted)
For Jan-Apr 2021 compared to Jan-Apr 2020, Nova Scotia exports to the United States have increased 14.4% or $151.8 million. Exports to China are up 3.2% or $6.8 million.
Exports to large economies in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore) are up 74.5% (+$43.0 million) and have risen to the largest Euro Area countries (Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain) by 8.5% (+$8.0 million). Exports to Mexico (+43.9%), United Kingdom (+19.3%), and other countries (+30.7%) are recovering after lower shipments in 2020.
Statistics Canada. Table 12-10-0119-01 International merchandise trade by province, commodity, and Principal Trading Partners (x 1,000)
<--- Return to Archive
