Canada's Oat Industry: Dominating Global Exports and Supplying Premium Markets

In 2022, oats ranked as the 905th most traded product globally, underscoring their niche yet significant role in international trade. Leading the market, Canada exported oats worth $464 million, followed by Australia ($182 million), the United Kingdom ($78.2 million), Sweden ($76.9 million), and Finland ($64 million). Canada’s oat exports were predominantly directed to the United States ($442 million), with smaller markets in China ($6.41 million), Japan ($5.29 million), South Korea ($4.94 million), and Peru ($2.17 million).

Canada, the world's largest exporter of high-quality oats, annually produces about four million tonnes, with Saskatchewan alone contributing over 50% of this output. This robust production supports three primary markets: milling oats for human consumption, performance oats for high-end horse feed, and high-yielding feed oat varieties for livestock.

Despite the diversification into premium markets, a significant portion of Canadian oats remains within the domestic feed market. These oats are primarily produced and consumed on farms, with a small fraction entering the Canadian racehorse market. The North American feed market significantly influences oat prices, especially in years of abundant supply.

Performance oats, or "pony oats," represent the pinnacle of oat production quality. These oats, destined for premium horse feed markets, must meet stringent buyer specifications, typically aligning with the No. 1 grade standards of the Canadian Grain Commission. These specifications include plumpness, bright color, and heavy test weight.

Performance oats are usually shipped in bulk or bagged form. The bagged oats undergo double re-cleaning and clipping processes to enhance bushel weight, generating by-products such as weed seeds, dust, and small oats. These by-products are also marketed, demonstrating the industry's comprehensive utilization of oat harvests.

Canada’s dominance in the oat export market reflects its commitment to quality and diverse applications, from human consumption to specialized animal feeds. This versatility, coupled with substantial production capacity, positions Canada as a critical player in meeting global oat demand.
Canada's Oat Industry: Dominating Global Exports and Supplying Premium Markets

Oats production in Canada

Oats have a long and uncertain pedigree, being known since early historical times, for example to the ancient Greeks. Oats are grown in approximately 23 countries around the world. These are concentrated mainly in the northern hemisphere, but also in Australia and Argentina in the southern hemisphere.

Canada is the largest global oats exporter and has one of the largest oat-milling industries in the world, accounting for 15% of total global production and roughly 60% of global exports.

Oats are well suited for production under marginal environments (such as cool climates and soil with limiting nutrients) in comparison to other cereal crops. Western Canada is suited for oat production as many oat varieties flower and mature quickly in the short season conditions.

Production has increase in Manitoba and Saskatchewan since 1995. Both provinces have a closer proximity to the Midwestern US milling market.

The oats markets of Canada and the United States are more closely integrated than the markets of most other commodities.
Oats production in Canada

Fruit of Blueberries in North America

Fruit of Blueberries in North America
Blueberries grow wild in many parts of the world. Blueberries are mainly important in Canada and the USA.

Other producers include the countries of Scandinavia and eastern Europe. In recent years there has been increased planting in New Zealand, France and UK.

North America farmers grow over 103 million pounds of blueberries a year. Canada and United States supply almost 95% of the total blueberries for the food industry.

Cultivation highbush harvesting begins in the spring in the southern United States and continues in Nova Scotia and British Columbia into October.

Cultivated blueberries grow in clusters and the berries do not ripen all at once. The berries at the bottom of the cluster may be ripe, while the ones on top are still green.

Highbush berries are grown in British Columbia and on much smaller scale in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.

Canada is top wild blueberry producer in the world, while Nova Scotia contributes one-quarter of the total amount.

Domestic and international demand for berries is on the rise with increased public awareness of the many health benefits associated with berry consumption, including high fiber content and antioxidant activity.

Canada acreage of cultivated berries has more than double in western Canada during the past decade.

British Columbia is the largest blueberry producer in Canada, About 60 to 70 percent of the blueberries sold in North America are cultivated.

Half of the commercial blueberries are turned into jams, pies and other bakery products and processed food.
Fruit of Blueberries in North America