Open data · Trade · 2000–2025
How dependent are Canadian exporting firms on the United States, which firms and provinces are most exposed, and how diversified are they? An analysis of a quarter-century of Statistics Canada data on every goods-exporting business.
In 2000, about three in four Canadian exporters (75.6%) sold only to the United States. That share fell steadily to a low of 55.9% in 2010 as firms added overseas markets, and stayed near 58% through 2019. Since 2020 the trend has reversed: by 2025, 65.2% of exporters again relied on the U.S. alone, and 84.7% sold at least some goods there.
Percent of all goods-exporting enterprises, 2000–2025.
The number of exporters tells a similar story. It fell from 48,657 in 2000 to a low of 40,611 in 2010, and has since recovered to 47,948. Almost all of the post-2020 rebound came from firms that sell only to the U.S.
Number of enterprises, 2000–2025.
The smaller the firm, the more likely it sells only to the United States. About two-thirds of exporters with fewer than 50 employees depend on the U.S. alone, against about half of large enterprises, which are far more likely to serve both the U.S. and other markets.
Percent of exporting enterprises in each employment-size class.
Small and medium-sized enterprises make up 97.3% of exporters but only 41.1% of export value. A small number of large enterprises ship most of the goods.
Percent of all exporting enterprises and of total goods export value.
In every province, most exporting establishments sell to the United States. The share is highest in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island, and lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and British Columbia. Across Canada, the share in 2025 (85.7%) is a little below its 2000 level (89.1%) after a dip in the 2010s.
Percent of exporting establishments in each province; 2025 (bar) and 2000 (dot). The dashed line is Canada in 2025.
The United States receives 71.9% of goods export value and is a market for 85.7% of exporting establishments. The next destinations — the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Germany and France — each reach only a few percent of exporters. The U.K. and China stand out for value; Australia and the U.A.E. attract many exporters but little value.
Share of exporting establishments selling to each country, and share of total goods export value. An establishment can sell to several countries.
Three in four exporters (74.7%) sell to only one foreign country, usually the United States. Together they account for just 17.5% of export value. The few firms that reach six or more markets carry most of the value.
Percent of exporting enterprises and of total goods export value.
Export value is highly concentrated. The ten largest exporting enterprises account for about a quarter of goods exports (24.3% in 2025) and the top 100 for 59.5%. These shares have stayed within a narrow range for 25 years, while total nominal export value rose from $372 billion to $713 billion.
Percent of total goods export value, 2000–2025.
Billions of current dollars (not adjusted for inflation), 2000–2025.
Why it matters. Canada’s export base combines a long tail of small, U.S.-only exporters with a small core of large, diversified firms. U.S. trade policy therefore reaches tens of thousands of small businesses directly, even though most export value is concentrated in a few hundred enterprises.
12-10-0096-01 (enterprise size and region type), 12-10-0091-01 (number of partner countries), 12-10-0093-01 (concentration of exports), 12-10-0104-01 (country of destination and province). Data downloaded October 2026.