Industries with the Biggest Decline in Imports in Canada in 2025

1. Truck & Bus Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -48.1%

Truck and bus manufacturers were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2018 and 2019, exports trended higher, as downstream freight operators increased their vehicle fleets, lifting demand at the manufacturing level. Plus, the depreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to other currencies has also catalyzed industry export activity, further supporting industry expansion. As exports account for a significant portion of industry revenue, the industry has benefited. However, as a result of the adverse effects from the pandemic, industry revenue fell at a CAGR of 10.9% over the past five years and is expected to total $2.8 billion in 2023,... Learn More

2. Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -40.4%

Over the five years to 2023, Canadian generic pharmaceutical manufacturers have accounted for a climbing share of total drug prescriptions dispensed by volume. According to 2021 data from the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (latest data available), average generic drug prices in Canada have declined more than 50.0% over the past decade. To cut healthcare costs, many provinces and territories have set more stringent price caps for generic drugs, effectively preventing generics from exceeding a set share of the brand-name drug equivalent's price.

Still, robust generic drug usage rates have buoyed demand, offsetting the influence of compressed drug prices. Also, prescription... Learn More

3. Electrical Equipment Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -35.2%

Revenue for the Electrical Equipment Manufacturing industry in Canada is expected to fluctuate, falling at an estimated CAGR of 2.2% to $5.5 billion over the five years to 2023, including a 2.5% dip in 2023 alone. The current period has demonstrated moderate revenue volatility, including revenue falling an estimated 7.8% in 2020 as a result of the economic dislocation caused by COVID-19; however, the industry rebounded, with revenue increasing an estimated 1.4% in 2022 alone as the pandemic began to recede. Electric equipment manufacturers in Canada rely on demand from downstream industries in the construction and manufacturing sectors. However, domestic... Learn More

4. SUV & Light Truck Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -30.4%

Revenue for SUV and light truck manufacturers in Canada is projected to decrease throughout 2023, due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and volatile economic conditions. With the export market accounting for over 50.0% of industry revenue in 2023, of which more than 95.0% is destined for the United States, industry operators are heavily reliant on US economic conditions. Despite a robust economic recovery after the peak of the pandemic, industry production has not fully recovered to the levels exhibited earlier in the period. As a result, the industry has declined at a CAGR of 7.4% over the past... Learn More

5. Computer Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -20.8%

Computer manufacturers have undergone long-term decline as fierce international competition continues to flood the domestic market with low-cost imports. This influx of imports has been driven by foreign competitors, primarily from developing economies that have lower labour and production costs. Competition combined with product standardization has exerted strong downward pressure on prices, lowering revenue growth. Several major operators have exited the industry prior to the current period. Revenue drastically dropped heading into the period because of these exits, but it evened out prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused growth, then additional decline as supply chain difficulties resulted in low... Learn More

6. Shoe & Footwear Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -19.7%

Due to high levels of recent economic volatility, the Canadian shoe and footwear manufacturing industry has experienced significant fluctuations in performance over the past five years. Competition from imports and the effect of the pandemic have contributed to unstable industry revenue growth. The appreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to its trading partners during the period has encouraged demand for increasingly affordable imports while also increasing price competitiveness domestically. Consumer demand for footwear has been predominantly satisfied by competitively priced products manufactured in developing countries. However, over the past five years, revenue has been growing at a CAGR of 0.7%,... Learn More

7. Computer Peripheral Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -14.5%

Canadian computer peripheral manufacturers have struggled over the past decade, as strong import competition has brought low-cost goods into the domestic market. Peripheral products are still desirable in the corporate space, although individual consumers increasingly purchase mobile and cloud-based devices. These products rarely require peripheral add-ons. Revenue has expanded at an expected CAGR of 7.4% to $670.4 million through 2023, despite a 0.3% drop in 2023. Manufacturers peaked during the pandemic, particularly as consumers spent more time at home and on computers; however, massive declines bracket this pandemic-era growth.

Several major manufacturers have departed from the domestic industry because of... Learn More

8. Iron & Steel Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -12.7%

Iron and steel manufacturers melt and refine iron ore into pig iron, which is processed into steel and shaped in various shapes for downstream construction- and manufacturing-related industries. Manufacturers are directly affected by changing prices for steel. Volatility in steel prices has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. A limited global supply of steel has caused a sharp uptick in the price of steel alongside growing demand. Revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.0% to $18.9 billion through the end of 2023, despite a decline of 6.9% in 2023 alone.

Revenue for manufacturers follows a variety of factors, including... Learn More

9. Forklift & Conveyor Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -10.5%

Canadian forklift and conveyor manufacturers largely rely on foreign demand, particularly from the United States. Exports account for more than 75.0% of revenue, with the United States making up more than 85.0% of those exports. Many trends in Canadian and American manufacturing, construction, transportation and warehousing sectors drive growth. The Canadian effective exchange rate (CEER) index also significantly impacts operations. The CEER index appreciated, rendering Canadian-made products less affordable overseas. Supply chain shocks also hampered trade markets, leading to plummeting revenue. Revenue will contract at an expected CAGR of 0.8% to $5.2 billion through the current period, including a 3.7%... Learn More

10. Hand Tool & Cutlery Manufacturing in Canada

Decline in Imports for 2025: -10.4%

Hand tool manufacturers in Canada produces a wide variety of metal goods, including landscaping and construction tools, industrial components and consumer products. Although a diversified product selection usually shelters the industry from macroeconomic fluctuations, the industry is largely homogeneous and its low-cost nature renders manufacturers vulnerable to pressure from lower priced and more complex substitutes such as power tools. As a result, imported products manufactured in countries with lower labour costs have increasingly flooded the Canadian market, as it can be seen with rising imports from an appreciating loonie. Overall, industry revenue has decreased at a CAGR of 0.4% over... Learn More