World Grain - July 2014 - 22

COUNTRY FOCUS

Key Facts

Focus on Canada
2014-15 grain production forecast to drop
from 66.2 million tonnes to 52.9 million
by Chris Lyddon

Canada is one of the world's most important grain producers
and exporters, supplying grain quality that is important to processors in many countries. It does it in a climate that is often difﬁcult
and across a vast area that creates logistical problems. Canada
is closely linked to the U.S. through geography and the NAFTA
trade agreement.
The International Grains Council's (IGC) projection for Canada's wheat crop in 2014-15 shows a sharp fall, to 29 million
tonnes from 37.5 million in 2013-14.
"Farmers in Canada are expected to reduce the area of all varieties due to high carryover stocks and lower domestic prices,
with total plantings seen some 5% lower, at about 10.1 million
hectares," the IGC said. "The spring planting season is being
delayed by unseasonably cold and showery weather in western
regions, notably in Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan. In contrast, warmer and drier conditions favored the development of
the winter wheat in the east. Assuming normal abandonment and
yields returning to average after the previous season's record,
production is forecast 23% lower year on year."
The IGC puts Canada's total 2014-15 grains crop at 52.9 million
tonnes, down from 66.2
ICELAND
GREENLAND
million the year before.
As well as the wheat, its
maize crop is projected
to fall to 12.5 million
tonnes from 14.2 million, while barley production is set to fall to
CANADA
7.7 million tonnes from
10.2 million. Canada is
U. S. A.
also expected to produce 3.3 million tonnes of oats, down from 3.9 million.
Canada is one of the world's largest exporters, with
total grains exports forecast by the IGC at 27.1 million tonnes in 2014-15, up from 26.4 million in 201314. Wheat exports are predicted to rise to 22.6 million
tonnes from 22.3 million. Maize exports are seen down at 1.2
million tonnes, from 1.3 million, while barley exports are set to
rise to 1.5 million tonnes from 1.2 million.
The IGC projects Canada's 2014-15 crop of durum at 5 million
22

Capital: Ottawa
Population: 34,834,841 (July 2014 est.)
Religions: Catholic 40.5% (includes Roman Catholic
38.7%, Orthodox 1.6%, other Catholic .2%), Protestant
20.3% (includes United Church 6.1%, Anglican 5%, Baptist 1.9%, Lutheran 1.5%, Pentecostal 1.5%, Presbyterian
1.4%, other Protestant 2.9%), other Christian 6.3%, Muslim 3.2%, Hindu 1.5%, Sikh 1.4%, Buddhist 1.1%, Jewish
1%, other 0.6%, none 23.9% (2011 est.).
Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the
Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous U.S.
Government: A parliamentary democracy, a federation,
and a constitutional monarchy. Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since Feb. 6, 1952); head of government: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (since Feb. 6, 2006).
Economy: As a high-tech industrial society in the trilliondollar class, Canada resembles the U.S. in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living
standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the
manufacturing, mining and service sectors has transformed
the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA), which includes Mexico, touched off a
dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with
the U.S., its principal trading partner. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with the U.S., which absorbs about
three-fourths of Canadian merchandise exports each year.
Canada is the U.S.'s largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. Given its abundant natural resources, highly skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoyed solid economic growth
from 1993 through 2007. Buffeted by the global economic
crisis, the economy dropped into a sharp recession in the
final months of 2008, and Ottawa posted its first fiscal
deficit in 2009 after 12 years of surplus. Canada's major
banks, however, emerged from the financial crisis of 200809 among the strongest in the world, owing to the financial sector's tradition of conservative lending practices and
strong capitalization. Canada achieved marginal growth in
2010-13 and plans to balance the budget by 2015. In addition, the country's petroleum sector is rapidly expanding,
because Alberta's oil sands significantly boosted Canada's
proven oil reserves. Canada now ranks third in the world
in proved oil reserves behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
GDP per capita: $43,100 (2013 est.); inflation: 1% (2013
est.); unemployment: 7.1% (2013 est.).
Currency: Canadian dollars (CAD): 1.09 Canadian dollars
equals 1 U.S. dollar (June 18, 2014).
Exports: $458.7 billion (2013 est.): motor vehicles and
parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications
equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber,
crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Imports: $471 billion (2013 est.): machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Major crops/agricultural products: Wheat, barley, oilseed,
tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; fish; forest products
Agriculture: 1.7% of GDP and 2% of the labor force.
Internet: Code: .ca; 8.743 million (2012) hosts and 26.96
million (2009) users.
Source: CIA World Factbook

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