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U.S./Canadian Horticultural Trade: An Update

Canadian Imports

Canada’s Imports from the United States Continue to Grow Despite Rising Costs

Canada’s imports of U.S. horticultural products increased 5 percent from 1999 to 2000, recovering from a slight dip in 1999. Since 1990, horticultural imports from the United States increased nearly 30 percent. Fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and tree nuts increased 5 percent, 46 percent, and 40 percent, respectively, since 1990.

This growth occurred despite a depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar. The Canadian dollar fell 27 percent against the U.S. dollar from 1990 to 2000 making U.S. imports much more expensive for Canadians.

Canada’s Horticultural Imports from the United States Keep Pace With Imports from Other Suppliers

Canada’s imports from the United States grew at roughly the same rate as Canada’s imports from the rest of the world; at 38 percent and 41 percent, respectively. This average growth across all horticultural products conceals the decline in some specific commodity groups. The growth of imports of fresh fruit from the United States lagged that of other competitors by 72 percent, mainly due to a fall in Canada’s imports of U.S. fresh citrus. Nursery products imports from the United States also suffered a relative decline. The dramatic growth in wine imports from the United States compensated for these losses. Canada’s imports of U.S. wine jumped from $25 million in 1990 to $90 million in 2000.

Canada’s Imports of U.S. Fresh Table Grapes Continue to Fall

Canada’s imports of U.S. fresh table grapes continued to fall in 2000, due to increased competition from major suppliers. The value of Canada’s table grape imports from the United States peaked in 1991 at $117 million and fell throughout the 1990s reaching a low of $95 million in 1998 before climbing back to $106 million in 2000. Total Canadian imports of fresh table grapes increased almost 10 percent during the 1990's, while the U.S. share of table grape import volume fell from 71 percent in 1993 to 60 percent in 2000. The primary competitor in imported fresh table grapes during this period was Chile. The counter-seasonal pattern of Chilean table grape production means that Canadian consumers are now enjoying grapes year-round. The import pattern complements U.S. table grape marketing in Canada. Chile’s volume share of Canada’s table grape imports reached 22 percent in 2000. Chilean and Mexican table grapes increased their share of the Canadian market, durng the U.S. off-season. In 2000, the price of imported U.S. table grapes was $1.12 per kilogram as compared to the average of $1.29 per kilogram for all imported table grapes. The prices of Chilean and Mexican table grapes were $1.69 and $1.28 per kilogram, respectively.

Canada’s Imports of U.S. Fresh Tomatoes Continue to Grow

The United States is the largest supplier of fresh tomatoes to Canada, which purchased almost 80 percent of total U.S. tomato exports in 2000. Canada’s imports of fresh tomatoes from the United States grew 43 percent from $76 million in 1990 to $110 million in 2000. This absolute growth allowed the United States to gain an 82-percent share of all fresh tomato imports into Canada. Florida, California, Arizona, Virginia, and Texas led all other states in exports of tomatoes to Canada, accounting for more than 90 percent of the total. In 1999, according to attaché reports, Florida exported 72,182 tons of tomatoes to Canada, valued at $49 million. Moreover, tomato exports account for 14 percent of the value of Florida agricultural exports to Canada. Competition in the Canadian fresh tomato import market comes mostly from Mexico, which captured a 14-percent market share in 2000.

Canada’s Stagnant Import Market for Fresh Oranges

Canada’s market for imported fresh oranges was relatively constant during the 1990s at $100 million dollars or 200,000 tons. During much of the decade the United States supplied over 85 percent of Canada’s imported oranges. Canada’s dependence on U.S. oranges makes the Canadian market vulnerable to citrus production shocks in the United States. In the winter of 1998-99, for example, an unseasonable freeze in California wiped out almost half of the state’s orange crop, creating market opportunities for competitors, such as South Africa. While imported oranges from South Africa fell from their 1999 levels, South African exporters who established contacts with Canada’s food industry will continue to play a strong role in Canada’s orange market for years to come.

U.S. Imports

Processed Fruits and Vegetables Lead U.S. Imports of Horticultural Products from Canada

Among the horticultural sectors, processed fruits and vegetables account for about 30 percent of the value of total U.S. horticultural product imports from Canada. Moreover, imports of frozen vegetables, the main processed horticultural product imported from Canada, have tripled since 1994. Total U.S. imports of Canadian frozen vegetables were valued at more than $400 million in 2000.

Likewise, U.S. imports of canned vegetables from Canada were valued at about $75 million in 2000, seven times the value imported in 1994. Canada, Mexico, and Brazil supply most of the U.S. demand for imported processed fruits and vegetables.

Potato and Potato Products are also an Important Component

U.S. imports of Canadian potatoes and potato products have increase steadily since 1994, reaching a record $405 million in 2000. However, bilateral trade in potatoes and potato products between the United States and Canada continues to be marked by several sensitive issues. Most U.S. potato imports from Canada are destined for the northeastern region for fresh table use. Trade in frozen and processed potatoes, however, has grown faster than trade in fresh potatoes. U.S. per capita consumption of table potatoes has declined, whereas per capita consumption of frozen french fries has increased.

Last modified: Sunday, March 17, 2013