Saskatchewan Ag Exports Reach new Peak in 2021

The value of Saskatchewan agricultural exports set another new record in 2021, rising by almost 7% from the previous year.

Provincial ag exports this past year amounted to $17.5 billion, up from the previous high of $16.4 billion in 2020, which itself was 27% over the year-earlier level, the government said in a release Monday. Canola seed, canola oil, wheat, durum, lentils and dry peas continued be the leading agri-food export commodities in 2021, with the US, China, Japan and Mexico among the top destinations.

Agri-food exports represented nearly half of total Saskatchewan exports in 2021, valued at $37.1 billion.

The province exported more than $2.6 billion in each of its key crop product sectors - cereal grains, oilseeds, pulses and edible oils, the release said. Compared to 2020, canola oil saw an increase of over 50%, with exports to the US increasing 72% from $1.1 billion to $1.9 billion. Canola oil to South Korea also experienced a dramatic increase, jumping 106% from $71 million to $146 million.

The 2021 record was set despite challenges that included infrastructure disruptions due to adverse weather events in British Columbia.

Saskatchewan has grown its agricultural exports by more than 56% since 2012, the release said, adding the province's ongoing international market expansion plans are progressing with the establishment of new trade and investment offices in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Vietnam, in addition to existing offices in Japan, India, China and Singapore.

The value-added processing and agriculture sectors are major components of Saskatchewan's Growth Plan goals, which include increasing crop production to 45 million tonnes, agriculture exports to $20 billion, and value-added revenue to $10 billion by the end of this decade.

The most recent example of progress toward these targets includes the announcement by Federated Co-operatives Ltd. to develop a renewable diesel facility as well as a canola crushing plant in Regina, in partnership with AGT Foods, with a capacity of 1.1 million tonnes and combined economic benefits estimated at $4.5 billion.