Home Trade and Investment State Trade Fact Sheets 2006 Louisiana

Louisiana

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• Canada–U.S. trade supported 5.2 million U.S. jobs
• Total Canada–U.S. merchandise trade: $461 billion
• Canada–Louisiana trade supported 73,000 U.S. jobs
• Canadians made more than 96,600 visits to Louisiana, spending $62 million
• Louisiana residents made 35,900 visits to Canada, spending $35 million

Rebuilding relationships
Canadian aid sailed into the port of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, helping both residents and businesses recover. This allowed Louisiana's lucrative trade relationship with Canada to expand in 2005, in spite of the challenges and setbacks the state experienced. Louisiana's exports to Canada increased by $86 million to a total of $1.4 billion in goods. Imports to the state increased 45% over 2004, to total $1.0 billion, helping to provide the materials necessary for rebuilding. Canada remained one of the state's top international markets, proving the lasting strength of the bilateral relationship the two share.

The right formula
The state's chemical industry increased both exports to and imports from Canadian manufacturers. The chemical sector represented three of the top ten exports: unshaped plastics ($359 million, a 32% increase from the previous year), organic chemicals ($109 million) and synthetic and reclaimed rubber products ($28 million). As a result, the chemical industry grew by over $116 million over the previous year, to $677 million. Louisiana imported its share of Canadian chemicals, making the industry the top import sector. The greatest increase was seen in organic chemicals, with imports of $111 million, an increase of 270% over 2004.

Truck'n on
While Louisiana faced interruptions to supplies of imports of individual parts and exports of finished products, the transportation industry remained the state's second- largest export sector. Pre-Katrina Louisiana racked up record exports of trucks. However as a result of the disaster, exports to Canada were limited, causing the totals to be uncharacteristically depressed. While exports of finished trucks slipped, imports of Canadian motor vehicle parts increased 15%, to $70 million. As Louisiana recovers from Katrina, its industrial output grows. It is expected that the export of finished goods to Canada will return to pre-Katrina levels.

Moving forward
Following Katrina, tourism in Louisiana stalled. Even so, Canadians made 96,600 visits to Louisiana, spending $62 million visiting Bourbon Street, enjoying Mardi Gras and revisiting the ties between Cajun Louisiana and Acadian Canada. While the number of Canadian tourists declined, total spending increased. This trend was also found among Louisianans visiting Canada; Louisianan tourists spent $35 million exploring the cities and natural wilderness of Canada.

Louisiana's Leading Exports to Canada
2005, in millions of U.S. dollars

• Unshaped plastics ($359)
• Trucks ($143)
• Organic chemicals ($109)
• Coke of petroleum & coal ($83)
• Inorganic chemicals ($41)
• Fuel oil ($36)
• Medicine, in dosage ($36)
• Automobiles ($35)
• Electrical lighting & lamps ($29)
• Synthetic & reclaimed rubber ($28)

Louisiana's Leading Imports from Canada
2005, in millions of U.S. dollars

• Organic chemicals ($111)
• Petroleum & coal products ($80)
• Motor vehicle parts* ($70)
• Crude petroleum ($47)
• Synthetic rubber & plastics ($41)
• Softwood lumber ($37)
• Metal fabricated basic products ($33)
• Basic plastic shapes & forms ($20)
• Mining machinery ($20)
• Oils, fats, waxes, extracts, derivatives ($19)

*not including engines

Canada-Louisiana Success Stories

Three times in recent years — 1994 in New Brunswick, 1999 in Louisiana and 2004 in Nova Scotia — the Congrès Mondial Acadien has reunited families and cultures sundered in the Acadian deportation of the 1700s. Today's Cajuns in Louisiana and Acadians in Maritime Canada are rebuilding those ties through artistic, musical and literary exchanges and through tourism and economic trade that benefits both regions.

In 2004, the Canadian Commercial Corporation signed a Protocol of Intent with the Louisiana Airport Authority regarding the state's proposed intermodal transportation center.

The Canadian National Railway (CNR) is actively engaged with the Port of New Orleans and Port of South Louisiana in reinvigorating freight and container shipments through the ports in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team was among the first responders in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Team rescued 119 people in St. Bernard Parish, down river from New Orleans.

Louisiana-Canada Facts at a Glance:

• State jobs supported by Canada–U.S. trade: 73,000

August 2006

For more information on Canada's trade with Louisiana, please contact:

Consulate General of Canada
750 North St. Paul Street, Suite 1700
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: (214) 922-9806  •  Fax: (214) 922-9815
www.dallas.gc.ca

Consulate of Canada
5847 San Felipe Street, Suite 1700
Houston, TX 77057
Phone: (713) 821-1440  •  Fax: (713) 821-1611
www.houston.gc.ca

Sources: Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.2116. Merchandise trade data is customs-based for the year 2005. Job numbers are based on 2001 data from a 2003 study by Trade Partnership Worldwide commissioned by the Canadian Embassy. Canada's export ranking is from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER). All figures are in U.S. dollars. Figures may not add up due to rounding.

• Read the 2005 state trade figures
• Read the 2004 state trade figures
• Read the 2003 state trade figures
• Read the 2002 state trade figures