Trade and gender: The Canada-Singapore story

The amount of 2-way merchandise trade between Canada and Singapore increased by 11.2% in 2019, as compared to 2018—the last full year before preferential tariff treatment under CPTPP was applicable. In 2020, with the onset of COVID-19, merchandise trade fell by 12.2% compared to 2019.

In 2020, Canada exported $1,237 million in goods to Singapore and imported $1,179 million worth of goods.

In Canada, 5,849 jobs were directly or indirectly supported by merchandise exports to Singapore in 2019, 1,797 of which were occupied by women.

Top 5 Industries: Number of direct and indirect jobs occupied by women that are supported by goods exports to Singapore –

• Computer and electronic product manufacturing: 224 jobs
• Wholesale trade: 212 jobs
• Transportation equipment manufacturing: 163 jobs
• Finance and insurance: 129 jobs
• Professional, scientific and technical services: 115 jobs

The number of Canadian businesses exporting goods to Singapore in 2020 was 1,468, while the number of Canadian businesses importing goods from Singapore was 1,343.

Women-owned and equally-owned businesses in 2017:

• Export value: 23.5%
• Import value: 21.9%
• Exporters: 19.6%
• Importers: 21.1%

Men-owned businesses in 2017:

• Export value: 76.5%
• Import value: 78.1%
• Exporters: 80.4%
• Importers: 78.9%

Women-owned and equally-owned Canadian businesses make up a larger portion of importers than exporters by number of importers, but a smaller portion of imports than exports by value.

Notes:

• Women-, men- and equally-owned businesses refer to Canadian-controlled private corporations.
• The reported fractions are those for which data on gender ownership is available.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Employer-Employee Dynamics Database, Trade by Exporter Characteristics, Trade by Importer Characteristics and Canadian Merchandise Trade Database.