The value of Alberta’s international merchandise exports in April compared to March decreased 17 times during the previous 20 years, so the 9% drop in April 2021 was in keeping with this long-term pattern. Energy exports contracted by 11% and non-energy exports by 5%.

The lower values in April are due in part to regular seasonal variation in oil and natural gas production.

Total exports were, however, 56% higher this April than the year before when plummeting oil prices and the pandemic were wreaking havoc with Alberta’s economy, but down 5% compared to the pre-pandemic level in April 2019.

Encouragingly, the year-to-date value of exports from Alberta as of April was 8% higher than in 2019 and 16% above 2020.

Accounting for about two-thirds of Alberta’s total exports from January to April, the year-to-date value of energy products was 6% higher than in 2019 and 13% above 2020.

Non-energy exports, meanwhile, were well above their year-to-date level in 2019 (+11%) and 2020 (+22%).

Answer to the previous trivia question: According to Travel Alberta, Stampede pancake breakfasts date back to 1923 when pancakes were served from the back of a chuckwagon on Stephen Avenue.

Today’s trivia question: Over the first four months of 2021, how many different countries imported goods from Alberta?