• Canada–U.S. trade supported 7.1 million U.S. jobs
• Total Canada–U.S. merchandise trade: $535 billion
• 105,000 Alabama jobs are supported by Canada–U.S. trade
• Canadians made more than 46,000 visits to Alabama, spending $19 million
• Alabama residents made 64,000 visits to Canada, spending $45 million

A Close Relationship

In 2007, trade between Alabama and Canada increased by 12% over the previous year. With two-way exchanges of goods reaching nearly $4.6 billion for the year (an average of $12.6 million a day), Alabama enjoyed a trade surplus of about $1 billion over Canada, its second–largest partner (after Germany). Canada provided goods worth nearly $1.8 billion to the Yellowhammer State, while Alabama sold Canada merchandise worth more than $2.8 billion.

Driving the economic partnership

As in previous years, trade in transportation products emerged as the single largest import and export sector for Alabama, at $2.1 billion accounting for nearly half of the entire bilateral exchange. Alabama exported over $1.5 billion worth of automobiles and motor vehicle parts to Canada. For its part, Canada sold Alabama $482 million in motor vehicle parts, engines, trucks, railway trains and rolling stock, and aircraft parts and engines. Such exchanges in one of North America’s most tightly-integrated industries continue to support “just in time” manufacturing on both sides of the border.

Metal sales

The metal industry remained Alabama’s second-largest export sector in 2007, with sales to Canada amounting to $278 million; Canada, keeping the sectoral trade well-balanced, sold Alabama $216 million worth. Metals and metal products most frequently traded were aluminum, including alloys; steel plate, sheet and strip; and basic metal fabricated hardware.

Good chemistry

The chemical sector displayed an almost perfect balance of trade between Canada ($161 million) and Alabama ($160 million). Canada sold Alabama products led by synthetic rubber and plastics, fertilizers, and basic plastic shapes and forms. Alabama, in its turn exported organic chemicals, unshaped plastics, inorganic chemicals, and more to its northern neighbor.

Forest for the trees

Alabama bought $243 million worth of Canadian forest products in 2007 — down slightly from the previous year — including softwood lumber, wood pulp, newsprint. Alabama reciprocated by selling Canada $71 million worth of its own forest products, nearly all of which consisted of paper and paperboard.

Canadians visit Alabama, and vice versa

The beautiful Gulf Coast state offers many attractions that appeal to Canadian tourists, including the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center, and Civil Rights historic sites such as the Rosa Parks Library and Museum. In 2007, Canadians made approximately 46,000 visits to the state, spending $19 million. Similarly, residents of Alabama paid 64,000 visits to Canada and spent about $45 million.

Canada–Alabama Success Stories

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) continues to deepen its presence in southeastern United States with the acquisition of Alabama’s National BanCorporation (ANB). This expands the RBC Bank USA unit to about 440 locations in the region, including new markets in Florida and Georgia.

National Industries, Inc. of Hamilton, Ontario, is building a new $350 million freight car manufacturing facility in The Shoals (Colbert County), AL. National’s already strong presence in the North American freight car market will be further enhanced by the introduction of its new wholly owned subsidiary, National Alabama Corporation. At full capacity, the new plant will employ 1,800 people, and produce 10,000 cars annually. Construction is underway, with the first cars rolling off the assembly lines by the summer of 2009.

Alabama is one of six states to partner with seven Canadian provinces in forming the Southeastern United States–Canadian Provinces Alliance, a public-private organization formed in 2007 to enhance and further economic development between the two regions.

June 2008

Tourism

• 46,000 Alabama visits by Canadians, $19 million spent
• 64,000 Alabama visits to Canada, $45 million spent

Jobs

• Alabama jobs supported by Canada–U.S. trade: 100,500

Merchandise Trade

• Exports to Canada: $2.8 billion
• Imports from Canada: $1.8 billion
• Bilateral trade: $4.6 billion

PDF Format

Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.0749. Merchandise trade is based on total exports and imports for the year 2007. Job numbers are based on 2005 data from a 2006 study commissioned by the Canadian Embassy. Canada’s export ranking is from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER). All figures are in U.S. dollars. Figures may not add up due to rounding.