Canada’s exports to China jumped by 30.1% in the first half of 2026, led by crude oil, copper and other energy and mineral products, as Ottawa stepped up efforts to diversify trade ties amid growing tensions with its largest trading partner, the US.
Exports to China reached C$21.74 billion (US$15.63 billion) over the period, marking the highest first-half value since 1997, according to a trade report released by the Canada China Business Council and the China Institute at the University of Alberta.
The report showed that energy and mineral products drove much of the growth. Energy products accounted for 35.8% of the shipments, surging 81.8% from a year earlier. Metal ores and non-metallic minerals made up 22.6%, with exports rising 29%.
Crude petroleum exports more than doubled to C$5.96 billion, contributing C$3.2 billion to the overall increase. Exports of copper ore and concentrate rose by C$949 million to C$2.64 billion.
SCMP: How Canada’s Trump headache is fuelling a China trade boom