CANADIAN GRAIN EXPORTS BY OUTLET AND END MARKET, 1991
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 1991 the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway (GL-SLS) and the Pacific outlets recorded significant increase in the amount of Canadian grain exported through their facilities compared to 1990. This was mainly due to the strengthening of Canadian grain supply that allowed a significant increase in total grain exports.
The gains in the GL-SLS's share was mainly drawn on the account of the Pacific outlet. The share of the latter of total Canadian grain exports declined to 58.8% from 62.4% in 1990 but was higher than the 56.4% average of the last five years. In absolute terms, exports through the Pacific at 18.4 Mt were 19.1% above the 15.5 Mt a year earlier.
The GL-SLS's share of total Canadian grain exports in 1991 jumped to 38.1% from 33.1% a year earlier but was still lower than the 39.3% average of the last five years. The strong performance of the GL-SLS in 1991 was mainly due to substantial increases of Canadian grain exports to the "Soviet Union" of which 76.1% were exported through the waterway compared to 62.5% in 1990.
During the same period the GL-SLS dominated four out of eight export markets for Canadian grain compared to five for the same period last year. Meanwhile, the Pacific outlet, which had a majority share in three markets a year earlier, dominated four markets this year by increasing its market share in Other Africa.
CANADIAN GRAIN EXPORT SITUATION
Canada's grain production in 1990-91 crop year was about 64 Mt, 20% higher than the 53 Mt of 1989-90. With this recovery in supply, Canadian grain exports rose to 30 Mt, up from 26 Mt in 1989-90. Meanwhile, Canada's market share of world grain trade in 1990-1991 increased to 13.7% compared to 10.6% a year earlier.
Canadian grain exports1 in the 1991 calendar year were 31.4 Mt, 26.4% above the 24.8 Mt in 1990 and 27.9% higher than the 24.5 Mt average of the last five years (Please see Table 1). While Canadian grain exports to the "Soviet Union", Asia, Latin America increased, exports to Europe, North Africa & Middle East, Other Africa and the U.S. declined.
Asia imported 13.6 Mt of Canadian grain in 1991, 26.5% above the 10.6 Mt in 1990 but its share of total Canadian grain exports was unchanged at 42.8%. The "Soviet Union", which ranked second, imported 8.5 Mt, 69.6% above the 5 Mt in 1990 and its share of total Canadian grain exports rose from 20.2% to 27.1%.
In contrast, grain exports to North Africa & Middle East during the same period decreased by 21.6% to 3.1 Mt and its share of total Canadian grain exports shrank to 10% from 16.1%. Meanwhile, Latin America imported 3.3 Mt, accounting for 10.4% of total Canadian grain exports. This was followed by Western Europe (1.1 Mt / 3.6%), the U.S. (1.0 Mt / 3.3%), Other Africa (0.7 Mt / 2.1%) and Eastern Europe (0.2 Mt / 0.7%).
The impact of the Canadian grain export situation was reflected in the level and direction of grain flowing through alternative Canadian seaboard outlets.
THE GREAT LAKES -ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY
With the strengthening of Canadian grain supply situation the amount exported through the GL-SLS in 1991 has substantially improved compared to 1990. Grain exports through this outlet in 1991 were almost 12 Mt, 45.5% above the 8.2 Mt in 1990 and 23.9% higher than the 9.6 Mt average for the last five years. Meanwhile, the share of the GL-SLS of total Canadian grain exports jumped to 38.1% from 33.1% in 1990 but was still below the 39.3% average of the last five years.
While exports via the Seaway to the Soviet, North African & Middle Eastern, Latin American and Western European markets increased, exports to the other markets declined. The system had a majority share in four out of eight export markets for Canadian grain compared to five markets for the same period last year.
The strong performance of the GL-SLS this season was mainly due to substantial increases of Canadian grain exports to the "Soviet Union" of which 76.1% or 6.5 Mt were exported through the waterway in 1991 compared to 62.5% share or 3.1 Mt a year earlier. Latin America, which ranked second, received 2.3 Mt, representing 19.4% of the waterway's total Canadian grain exports. North Africa & the Middle East followed with 1.4 Mt or 11.7% share, Western Europe (1 Mt / 8%), the U.S.A. (0.5 Mt / 3.9%), Other Africa (0.2 Mt / 1.8%) and Eastern Europe with less than 0.01 Mt and 0.1% share.
THE CANADIAN ATLANTIC
Canadian grain exports through the Canadian Atlantic in 1991 were 0.18 Mt, 24.8% above the 0.15 Mt in 1990 but 65% lower than the 0.5 Mt average for the last five years. Meanwhile, the share of this outlet of total Canadian grain exports at 0.6%, was similar to 1990 but lower than the 2.1% average of the last five years.
In 1991, Western Europe received 0.09 Mt of Canadian grain via this outlet, representing 50.5% of all Canadian grain exported through the Atlantic. Latin America was second receiving 0.08 Mt, accounting for 46.2%. North Africa & the Middle East followed with 0.01 Mt or 3.3% share.
CHURCHILL
Canadian grain exports through Churchill in 1991 were 0.24 Mt, 41.5% below the 0.42 Mt in 1990 and 34.5% lower than the 0.37 Mt average for the last five years. Meanwhile, the share of this outlet of total Canadian grain exports declined to 0.8% from 1.7% in 1990 and from the 1.5% average of the last five years.
In 1991, Latin America received 0.2 Mt of Canadian grain via Churchill, representing 82.4% of all Canadian grain exported through this outlet. North Africa & the Middle Eastern market was second receiving 0.03 Mt, accounting for 13.1%. Western Europe followed with 0.01 Mt or 4.5% share.
THE CANADIAN PACIFIC
Canadian grain exports through the Canadian Pacific outlet in 1991 period were 18.5 Mt, 19% above the 15.5 Mt in 1990 and 33.4% higher than the 13.8 Mt average of the last five years. Meanwhile, the share of this outlet of total Canadian grain declined to 58.8% from 62.4% in 1990 but was higher than the 56.4% average of the last five years.
The Asian market received 13.3 Mt via the Pacific outlet, representing 72.1% of all Canadian grain exported through this outlet compared to 10 Mt or 64.8% for the same period last year. This amount also represented 99.2% share of all Canadian grain exported to Asia in 1991.
The "Soviet" market was second, receiving 2.0 Mt, representing 11% of all Canadian grain exported through the Pacific. North Africa & the Middle East followed with 1.7 Mt or 9.1% share, Latin America (0.66 Mt / 3.6%), Other Africa (0.45 Mt / 2.5%), Eastern Europe (0.23 Mt / 1.3%) and Western Europe (0.08 Mt / 0.4%).
CANADIAN GRAIN EXPORTS BY PORT
During the January-December 1991 period, the port of Thunder Bay handled a total of about 12 Mt, accounting for 38.1% of all Canadian grain exports. Of this amount, an estimated 11.3 Mt were transshipped at Lower St. Lawrence ports and 0.7 Mt were exported directly overseas. During the same period, the port of Vancouver handled 13.4 Mt of grain, representing 42.6% of all Canadian grain exports. Meanwhile, the port of Prince Rupert handled 5.1 Mt, representing 16.2% of total Canadian grain exports in 1991.