Explanatory Notes — Industry

In Trade Data Online, the term industry refers to a group of businesses that produce the same or similar products (and/or services). However, as discussed in the industry classification section, these groups are precisely defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

It is important to note that:

• Industry-based trade data is derived from product-based trade data.

  The primary purpose for the recompilation by industry is to provide a basis for estimating the apparent domestic market for a collection of fabricated goods by combining manufacturing production data with trade data. This type of data integration carries with it a number of potential pitfalls and important limitations.

• Trade data is only available for goods-producing industries.

  As explained in the section Types of Trade Statistics, the numbers reported in Trade Data Online cover only merchandise trade clearing customs. Thus, there is no information on Trade in Services on this site. As outlined in the section on Trade by Industry, virtually all the merchandise trade is assigned to the producing units in the goods-producing industries, and only a small residual amount of this trade (not detailed on the site) is associated with services-producing industries.

• Only Canadian data on this site.

  Trade data by Industry is only available for Canada on this site.

Total - All Industries

This will give the total values for imports and exports (recorded at the border by Customs) of all products entering/leaving Canada. As such, only manufacturing and primary resource industries contribute to merchandise trade and trade in services is therefore not represented.

Note: The figures for "Total - All Industries" will match those for "Total - All Products" for Canada's trade with different trading partners.

Specific Industries

One or more specific industries can be selected using the different methods outlined below.

The industries are classified according to the NAICS. This industry classification is hierarchical and separates goods and services producing industries into 20 sectors. These are further broken down into sub-sectors, industry groups, industry classes and national industries. The various levels are categorized using NAICS codes ranging from 2 to 6 digits.

• Keyword Search

  This will call a window where specific industries can be identified and selected through a keyword search applied against the industry name as well as a thesaurus of synonyms and related terms.

• Code Search

  This will call a window where specific industries can be identified and selected through a code search applied against the NAICS code. This is most useful for those familiar with the industrial classification.

• Browse List

  This will call a window where specific industries can be identified by browsing through the list of NAICS codes. Sectors, sub-sectors and/or industry groups can be chosen in their entirety, or the "Drilldown" option can be used to view and select industries and national industries within those broader categories.

Top 25 Industries

This selection will list the Top 25 industries (5-digits NAICS codes) ranked in terms of the dollar value of imports or exports for the most recent year.

Multiple Selections

When specific NAICS codes are selected through keyword or code search or using the browse list option, multiple industry selections are then possible and reports can be generated with the selected industries either grouped together or shown individually.

NAICS codes selected through a particular retrieval method (e.g. browse list) are retained in memory if a different search method (e.g. keyword search) is later employed. This gives the ability to build up and modify lists of selected codes using different techniques in the course of a session.