With the trajectory of global trade being called into question by protectionism, supply chain disruptions and war, this four-part series is focused on Alberta’s international exports.

Today’s Owl asks three key questions about our exports to China: How big of a customer is it? Have our exports to China been going up or down? What are the main things we sell to China?

China is Alberta’s second largest customer after the United States. China accounted for 3.3% ($4.6 billion) of the dollar value of Alberta’s international merchandise exports in 2021. If we take exports to the US out of the equation, China accounted for 28.9% of Alberta’s international sales last year.

Although down by 13.9% ($736.6 million) from the peak reached in 2018, Alberta’s sales to the Middle Kingdom last year were 56.3% ($1.6 billion) higher than in 2010.

When it comes to what we sell to China, agricultural products dominate at 57.3% ($2.6 billion) of total sales in 2021. We also export a large amount of wood pulp, ethylene glycol and unwrought nickel to China.

Answer to the previous trivia question: The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (a.k.a. Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement) has 34 chapters.

Today’s trivia question: Which city has the largest population in China?