Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says Canadian Agri-food exports are expected to post another record year despite challenges from Covid-19.
She says there are indications Canada is on track to surpass last year’s record of 67 billion dollars in agriculture and agri-food exports.
She says shipments are approaching the government’s goal of 75 billion dollars by 2025.
She says government programs to support temporary foreign workers ensured about 85 percent of the migrant workforce came to Canada.
She adds there have been efforts to support online marketing initiatives with up to 75 thousand dollars for small business export marketing.
Bibeau adds Ottawa has also set up half a dozen new agricultural trade commissioners in markets around the world.
From January to October, Canadian agri-food and seafood exports rose 10 percent, reaching 61 billion dollars this year.
Top destinations include the U.S. at 53 percent, China at 12.5 percent, Japan at 7 percent and the European Union at 5.4 percent, up significantly from last year.
Canola exports rose 50 percent in the first 10 months of the year, reaching 5.1 billion dollars.
Increases were in China, up 430 million dollars or 60 percent, France, up 279 million dollars or 183 percent and the United Arab Emirates, up 235 million dollars.
Durum exports jumped 26 percent in the first 10 months of the year, reaching 1.6 billion dollars.
Leading destinations include Italy, up 155 million dollars and Morocco, up 108 million dollars.
Pork exports rose 22 percent in the first 10 months of the year, at 4.2 billion dollars.
China leads all export destinations at 1.4 billion dollars, up 945 million, followed by Japan at 1.2 billion and the U.S. at 1 billion dollars.
Exports of lentils jumped significantly, reaching 2 billion dollars, almost double the figure from last year.
India is the leading market at 688 million dollars, a record high to India for the January to October time period.
Turkey was second at 313 million dollars followed by the United Arab Emirates.
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