CANADIAN GRAIN EXPORTS BY OUTLET AND END MARKET, 1992
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Of the four Canadian seaboard outlets only the Pacific outlet recorded a significant increase in the amount of Canadian grain exported through its facilities during 1992. The share of the Pacific outlet of total Canadian grain increased to 65.5% in 1992 from 58.8% in 1991. This was mainly due to the strengthening of Canadian grain exports to Asia - a traditional market for the Western outlet - as well as to a substantial increases in grain exports to Latin America via the Pacific.
In contrast, the decline of grain exports through the other outlets, and particularly via the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway (GL-SLS), was mainly the result of a substantial decline in Canadian grain exports to the C.I.S. (former Soviet Union) as compared to the same period last year. The share of the Seaway of total Canadian grain exports declined to 29.8% in 1992 from 38.1% in 1991.
CANADIAN GRAIN EXPORTS SITUATION
Canada's grain production in 1992-93 is estimated to be 55 Mt, 8.3% lower than the 60.0 Mt of 1991-92. Meanwhile, grain exports are expected to be 28.7 Mt by the end of the 1992-93 crop year compared to 33.2 Mt a year earlier. Canada's market share of world grain trade at 12.6% should be lower than the 13.9% in 1991-92.
Canadian grain exports1 in 1992 calendar year were 30.1 Mt, 3.9% below the 31.4 Mt in 1991 and 14.1% higher than the 26.4 Mt average of the last five years.
Asia was by far the most important market for Canadian grain exports in 1992. The Asian market received 14.4 Mt of Canadian grain, 7.5% above the 13.4 Mt for the same period a year earlier and its share of total Canadian grain exports climbed to 47.9% from 42.8%.
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S., or former U.S.S.R.), imported 5.3 Mt of Canadian grain, 35.5% lower than the 8.5 Mt for the same period last year and their share declined to 17.6% from 27.1%. In contrast, grain exports to Latin America, during the same period, increased by 24.7% to 4.1 Mt and the share of this market of total Canadian grain exports rose to 29.8% from 10.4% a year earlier.
During the same period, North Africa & Middle East imported 2.3 Mt, accounting for 7.6% of total Canadian grain exports compared to 3.1 Mt and 10.0% share during the same period last year. This was followed by the U.S.A. (2.1 Mt / 6.8%), Western Europe (1.4 Mt / 4.6%) and Other Africa (0.6 Mt / 2.0%).
The situation of the Canadian grain exports during the January-December 1992 period was reflected in the level and direction of grain flowing through alternative Canadian seaboard outlets as described in the chapters that follow.
THE GREAT LAKES - ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY
Canadian grain exports through the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway (GL-SLS) in 1992 were 9.0 Mt, 24.7% below the 12.0 Mt in 1991 and 3.6% lower than the 9.3 Mt average for the last five years. Meanwhile, the share of the waterway of total Canadian grain exports declined to 29.8% from 38.1% in 1991 and from the 35.3% average of the last five years.
In 1992, the GL-SLS had a majority share in four out of eight export markets for Canadian grain, similar (in number) to 1991. Exports to three major export markets: the C.I.S., North Africa & Middle East and Latin America via this outlet experienced a substantial decline compared to the same period last year.
The C.I.S. received 3.5 Mt of Canadian grain through this outlet in 1992, representing 38.8% of all Canadian grain exported through the GL-SLS compared to 6.5 Mt and 54.2% share for the same period in 1991. This amount also represented 65.6% share of all Canadian grain exported to the C.I.S. during the same period compared to 76.1% a year earlier.
Meanwhile, Latin America ranked second by receiving 1.8 Mt, representing 20.3% of the waterway's total Canadian grain exports compared to 2.3 Mt and 19.4% share for the same period last year. Western Europe followed with (1.2 Mt / 13.8%), the U.S.A. (0.9 Mt / 10.3% share), Asia (0.6 Mt / 6.7%), North Africa & the Middle East (0.5 Mt / 5.1%) and Other Africa (0.4 Mt / 5.0%).
THE CANADIAN ATLANTIC
Canadian grain exports through the Canadian Atlantic in 1992 were 0.03 Mt, 84.5% below the 0.18 Mt in 1991 and 92.0% lower than the 0.35 Mt average for the last five years. Meanwhile, the share of this outlet of total Canadian grain exports declined to 0.1% from 0.6% for the same period last year and from the 1.3% average of the last five years.
Latin America received 0.02 Mt of Canadian grain via this outlet, in 1992, representing 56.1% of all Canadian grain exported through the Atlantic outlet. Western Europe and Other Africa received the remaining 0.01 Mt, accounting for 28.1% and 15.8% of all Canadian grain exported through this outlet respectively.
CHURCHILL
Canadian grain exports through Churchill in 1992 were 0.25 Mt, 2% above the 0.24 Mt in 1991 but 20.8% lower than the 0.31 Mt average for the last five years.
Meanwhile, the share of this outlet of total Canadian grain exports, at 0.8% was similar for the same period last year but lower than the 1.2% average of the last five years.
Other Africa received 0.13 Mt of Canadian grain via this outlet in 1992, representing 52.6% of all Canadian grain exported through Churchill. The C.I.S. received the remaining 0.12 Mt, accounting for 47.4% of all Canadian grain exported through this outlet.
THE CANADIAN PACIFIC
Canadian grain exports through the Canadian Pacific outlet in 1992 were 19.7 Mt, 7.0% above the 18.5 Mt in 1991 and 23.1% higher than the 16.0 Mt average of the last five years. Meanwhile, the share of this outlet of total Canadian grain increased to 65.5% from 58.8% for the same period last year and from the 60.7% average of the last five year.
Asia was by far the most important market for Canadian grain exported through the Western outlet in 1992. The Asian market received 13.8 Mt, representing 70.1% of all Canadian grain exported through this outlet compared to 13.3 Mt and 72.1% in 1991. This amount also represented 95.9% share of all Canadian grain exported to Asia in 1992.
The Latin American market was second, receiving 2.2 Mt compared to 0.7 Mt for the same period last year. This amount represented 11.2% of all Canadian grain exported through the Pacific in 1992 compared to 3.6% in 1991. North Africa & the Middle East followed with 1.8 Mt and 9.3% share, the C.I.S. (1.7 Mt 8.7%), Western Europe (0.12 Mt / 0.6%) and the U.S.A. with less than 0.1% share.
CANADIAN GRAIN EXPORTS BY PORT
In 1992, the port of Thunder Bay handled a total of about 9.0 Mt, accounting for 29.9% of all Canadian grain exports. Of this amount, almost 7.7 Mt were transshipped at Lower St. Lawrence ports and 1.3 Mt were exported directly overseas.
During the same period, the port of Vancouver handled 14.4 Mt of grain, representing 47.8% of all Canadian grain exports. Meanwhile, the port of Prince Rupert handled 5.3 Mt representing 17.6% of total Canadian grain exports during the same period.