Overview: Economic Highlights

The most distinctive characteristic of Manitoba’s $41 billion economy is its high degree of diversification.

Quotes on MB's Economy

Manitoba's largest industry - manufacturing - accounts for about 12% of the province's GDP, and the province's primary industries - mining, agriculture and forestry - together account for about 7%. Manitoba has a thriving service sector, with head offices for Canada's largest insurance company, largest mutual fund distributor, and largest integrated media company. Canada's only agricultural commodity exchange is located in Winnipeg, making the city the centre of Canada's grain trade. The province is also a major North American transportation hub.

The province’s industries are themselves well diversified. For example, within manufacturing, processed foods and transportation equipment represent about 37% of shipments, with the remainder of industry shipments comprised of machinery, wood products, chemicals, fabricated metal products, plastics, furniture, printing, clothing and electrical products. Agricultural production is similarly diversified, with crops accounting for about 60 per cent and livestock accounting for about 40 per cent.

Manitoba's high degree of economic diversification provides exceptional economic stability, as cyclical events in any individual industry are typically offset by other industries. The result has been that Manitoba's economy is one of the most stable in Canada.

Major Industries:  Agri-food, transportation equipment, resource-based industries, chemicals, machinery & equipment, furniture & building products, paper products, fabricated metal products, plastics, printing, electronics, information technology & telecommunications, aerospace, farm equipment, electric power generation, health care products, environmental services, tourism/cultural industries.

Major Export Markets (2007): United States, P.R. of China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico, Belgium, United Kingdom, South Korea, South Africa.

Major Import Markets (2007):  United States, P.R. of China, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, United Kingdom, France.

Major Export Products (ranked by value, 2007):  Metals and minerals, agricultural products, processed foods, vehicles and transport equipment, electrical energy, machinery, pharmaceuticals, furniture, plastics, wood products

Major Import Products (ranked by value, 2007):  Machinery and parts, vehicles and transport equipment, electrical equipment, furniture, data processing equipment, chemical products, printed products, textiles, plastics

Agricultural Commodities (ranked by value, 2007): Hogs, canola, wheat, cattle, dairy products, oats, poultry, barley, flaxseed, and eggs.

MB Budget 2009 MB Budget 2008 MB Budget 2007