China Exports to Canada
Fastest-Growing Chinese Exports are Coke Fuel and Circuit Boards
Oct 12, 2009
During 2008, the People’s Republic of China exported US$40 billion worth of goods to Canada.
That amount represents a 12.2% increase over the $35.6 billion in Chinese products shipped to Canada in 2007.
This analysis presents lists for the highest dollar-value, fastest-growing and declining export products from China. Technical jargon from Canada Border Services Agency's online customs tariff manual to describe each product category have been translated into plain language for our readers.
Top 15 Exports from China
The following 15 product categories represent the leading Chinese exports to Canada by dollar value in 2008. The international tariff classification code is shown within brackets for each export.
- Computer laptops and notebooks (code 847130) ... US$2.2 billion, up 23.7% from 2007 (5.6% of Chinese exports)
- Video games (950410) ... $1.2 billion, up 41.6% (2.9%)
- Toys including dolls, tricycles and puzzles (950300) ... $972.4 million, down 3.5% (2.4%)
- Cell phones (851712) ... $708.2 million, up 42.6% (1.8%)
- Computer monitors (852851) ... $611.1 million, down 12.7% (1.5%)
- Modems, routers and switches (851762) ... $536.1 million, up 46.5% (1.3%)
- Magnetic tape recorders and small-size players (851981) ... $479.4 million, up 6.3% (1.2%)
- Computer printer parts (847330) ... $430.5 million, down 8.6% (1.1%)
- TV receivers including Internet set-top boxes (852872) ... $426.7 million, up 17.3% (1.1%)
- Digital cameras, TV cameras and video recorders (852580) ... $410.2 million, up 0.7% (1%)
- Upholstered seats with wooden frames (940161) ... $393.5 million, up 6.1% (1%)
- Rubber, plastic and leather footwear (640399) ... $364.7 million, up 0.6% (0.9%)
- Knitted cotton sweaters, sweatshirts and coats (611020) ... $357.8 million, up 29.9% (0.9%)
- Other wooden furniture including cabinets (940360) ... $317.7 million, up 6.8% (0.8%)
- Women’s cotton trousers, overalls and shorts (620462) ... $291.4 million, down 1.5% (0.7%).
Computer products and high-tech equiment including modems, printers and cameras dominate 9 of the top 15 Chinese export categories to Canada.
Fastest-Growing Chinese Exports
Creating high volumes of coke from source products like coal produces heavy smoke, which may prove difficult in Canada due to environment al laws. Less stringent restrictions in China may explain the big jump in coke and semi-coke fuel exports to Canada in 2008.
- Coke and semi-coke from coal, lignite, peat (270400) ... US$270.5 million, up 520.1% from 2007
- Printed circuit assemblies (851770) ... $266.1 million, up 81.9% (0.7%)
- Modems, routers and switches (851762) ... $536.1 million, up 46.5% (1.3%)
- Cell phones (851712) ... $708.2 million, up 42.6% (1.8%)
- Video games (950410) ... $1.2 billion, up 41.6%
- Knitted cotton sweaters, sweatshirts and coats (611020) ... $357.8 million, up 29.9%
- Computer laptops and notebooks (code 8471.30) ... US$2.2 billion, up 23.7%
- Plastic and textile cases including golf bags (420292) ... $287.1 million, up 18.7%
- TV receivers including Internet set-top boxes (852872) ... $426.7 million, up 17.3%
- Commercial battery chargers, power supplies, controllers (850440) ... $270.8 million, up 15.3%.
While this diverse list of fastest-growing Chinese exports range from high-tech computer software games to cotton clothing, these products are all labor-intensive. Therefore, gains in sales of these exports from China are propelled by lower wage costs of Chinese workers.
Fastest-Declining Exports from China
Not all Chinese exports to Canada experienced gains in 2008. Even computer products like printers and monitors showed double-digit declines. Perhaps showing signs of the onset of the global recession, sales of toys and women’s clothing from China were down by low single-digits.
- Computer printers including ink-jet printers (844332) 243,367 -17.0% 0.6%
- Computer monitors (852851) ... $611.1 million, down 12.7%
- Computer printer parts (847330) ... $430.5 million, down 8.6%
- Toys including dolls, tricycles and puzzles (950300) ... $972.4 million, down 3.5%
- Women’s cotton trousers, overalls and shorts (620462) ... $291.4 million, down 1.5%
However, these decreases represent relatively small blips on China export performance report card with Canada during 2008. China grew its export sales to Canada by 12.2% to become the second-largest supplier to Canadian consumers behind the United States of America. That 20 of the top 25 Chinese products exported to Canada had percentage gains shows that China continues to have a solid and diversified foundation for growing its export sales.
Sources: Industry Canada's Trade Data Online, based on Statistics Canada reports as of October 7, 2009 and Canada Border Services Agency's online customs tariff manual.
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