This article was published by the Canada Energy Regulator on Feb. 12, 2025.
- Canada and the United States (U.S.) have a highly interconnected energy system(1). This summary of Canada’s trade at the national level illustrates these connections(2).
- A network of dozens of pipelines transport crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and refined petroleum products (RPPs) between Canada and the U.S. along with fleets of rail, marine, and freight vehicles. Additionally, 86 international power lines move electricity between provinces and states.
- Exports of crude oil, RPPs, natural gas, and NGLs to the U.S. amounted to $163 billion(3) for the Canadian economy in 2023, representing 21 per cent of Canada’s total goods exported globally(4).
- Imports of crude oil, RPPs, natural gas, and NGLs from the U.S. amounted to $36 billion in 2023, accounting for 4.7 per cent of Canada’s total goods imported globally(5).
- In 2023, electricity imports from the U.S. were valued at $1.6 billion, accounting for 0.2 per cent of all goods imported to Canada from all countries. Electricity exports to the U.S. in 2023 were valued at $4.3 billion, or 0.6 per cent of all goods exported from Canada to all countries.
Figure 1: Annual Hydrocarbon Imports and Exports Categorized by Product (2015-2023)
Text Alternative: This figure displays two yearly stacked bar charts of hydrocarbon exports and imports in barrel of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d) from 2015 to 2023. The left chart shows exports, and the right chart shows imports. The total value in billion dollars for each year is labeled at the top of each bar. To see an animated version of this graph, click here.
Exports of Canadian energy to the U.S.(6)
- In 2023, Canada provided 58 per cent of the volume of hydrocarbons imported by the U.S. More specifically, in 2023, Canada provided 60 per cent of the crude oil and close to 100 per cent of the natural gas imported by the U.S. Canada also supplied 21 per cent of the RPPs and 95 per cent of the NGLs imported by the U.S.
- Canada was the source of 85 per cent of the electrical energy imported by the U.S.
Canada-U.S. Hydrocarbon Trade
- Though primarily a hydrocarbon-exporting nation, Canada imported 1.1 million barrels per day of oil equivalent (BOE/d) in 2023 from 66 countries. The U.S. accounted for 83 per cent of that total.
- In 2023, Canada exported 5.8 million BOE/d to 109 countries, the U.S. accounting for 96 per cent.
- Of all the hydrocarbons exported to the U.S. in 2023, crude oil was by far the largest at 69.4 per cent, natural gas at 23.3 per cent, while RPPs and NGLs represented 5.4 per cent and 1.9 per cent, respectively.
- Of all the hydrocarbons imported from the U.S. in 2023, crude oil was 33.4 per cent of the total BOE/d, RPPs were 31.4 per cent, natural gas was 31.0 per cent and NGLs were 4.2 per cent.
Canada-U.S. Energy Trade by Type
Crude Oil
Figure 2: Annual Crude Oil Imports and Exports (2015-2023)
Text Alternative: This figure shows a yearly stacked bar chart for crude oil (including condensates) imports and exports in million barrels per day (MMb/d) by source and destination (U.S. versus other countries) from 2015 to 2023. Exports are displayed as positive values, with dark blue representing exports to the U.S. and dark orange for exports to other countries. Imports are shown as negative values, with light blue representing imports to the U.S. and light orange for imports to other countries. To see an animated version of this graph, click here.
- In 2023, Canada exported 3.9 MMb/d of crude oil. Of this, 97 per cent or 3.8 MMb/d went to the U.S.
- In 2023, crude oil exports to the U.S. were valued at $130 billion.
- In 2023, Canada imported 0.5 MMb/d of crude oil. Of this, 80 per cent, or 0.4 MMb/d, came from the U.S.
- Crude oil imports from the U.S. were valued at $14 billion in 2023.
Natural Gas
Figure 3: Annual Natural Gas Imports and Exports (2015-2023)
Text Alternative: This figure shows a yearly stacked bar chart for natural gas imports and exports in billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by source and destination (U.S. versus other countries) from 2015 to 2023. Exports are displayed as positive values, with dark blue representing exports to the U.S. and dark orange for exports to other countries. To see an animated version of this graph, click here.
- In 2023, Canada exported 7.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas, all of which went to the U.S.
- In 2023, natural gas exports to the U.S. were valued at $13 billion.
- In 2023, Canada imported 2.0 Bcf/d of natural gas—nearly 100 per cent from the U.S.
- In 2023, natural gas imports from the U.S. were valued at nearly $3 billion.
Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs)
Figure 4: Annual Ethane, Propane, and Butane Imports and Exports (2015-2023)
Text Alternative: This figure presents three yearly stacked bar charts: one for butane, one for propane, and one for ethane. Each chart displays imports and exports in thousand barrels per day (Mb/d), categorized by source and destination (U.S. versus other countries) 2015 to 2023. Exports are displayed as positive values, with dark blue representing exports to the U.S. and dark orange for exports to other countries. Imports are shown as negative values, with light blue representing imports to the U.S. and light orange for imports to other countries. To see an animated version of this graph, click here.
- NGLs are hydrocarbons recovered from natural gas or condensate as liquids when they are under slightly higher pressures and slightly lower temperatures. These liquids include, but are not limited to, ethane, propane, butanes and pentanes plus.
- In 2023, Canada exported 245.0 Mb/d of NGLs, with 66 per cent or 159.0 Mb/d going to the U.S.
- In 2023, NGL exports to the U.S. were valued at $2.8 billion.
- In 2023, Canada imported 91.8 Mb/d of NGLs—nearly 100 per cent from the U.S.
- NGL imports from the U.S. were valued at $0.5 billion in 2023.
Refined Petroleum Products (RPP)
Figure 5: Annual Refined Petroleum Products Imports and Exports (2015-2023)
Text Alternative: This figure shows a yearly stacked bar chart for (RPPs) imports and exports in million barrels per day (MMb/d) by source and destination (U.S. versus other countries) 2015 to 2023. Exports are displayed as positive values, with dark blue representing exports to the U.S. and dark orange for exports to other countries. Imports are shown as negative values, with light blue representing imports to the U.S. and light orange for imports to other countries. To see an animated version of this graph, click here.
- RPPs include a wide range of products refined from crude oil, such as motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil (diesel), heating oil, and kerosene jet fuel, among others.
- In 2023, Canada exported 0.37 MMb/d of RPPs. Of this, 87 per cent, or 0.32 MMb/d, went to the U.S.
- In 2023, RPP exports to the U.S. were valued at $17.2 billion.
- In 2023, Canada imported 0.47 MMb/d of RPPs. Of this, 80 per cent or 0.37 MMb/d came from the U.S.
- RPP imports from the U.S. were valued at $18.2 billion in 2023.
Electricity
Figure 6: Annual Electricity Imports and Exports from and to the U.S. (2015-2023)
Text Alternative: This figure shows a yearly stacked bar chart for electricity imports and exports in Terawatt hours (TWh) with the U.S. from 2015 to 2023. Exports are displayed as positive values, with dark blue representing exports to the U.S. Imports are shown as negative values, with light blue representing imports from the U.S. One hundred percent of imports are from the U.S. and 100 per cent of the exports are to the U.S. Canada does not import or export electricity to other countries. To see an animated version of this graph, click here.
- Electricity imports and exports play a critical role in ensuring the reliability of the electricity systems of respective Canadian provinces and U.S. states.
- All of Canada’s electricity trade is with the U.S. In 2023, Canada exported 49.4 Terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity. These were valued at $4.3 billion.
- In 2023 Canada imported 16.7 TWh of electricity, valued at $1.6 billion in 2023.
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