Overview: Economic Highlights

The most distinctive characteristic of Manitoba's $42 billion economy is its high degree of diversification.

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The 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 35% 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 65 per cent and livestock accounting for about 35 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 Export Markets (2008): United States, Japan, P.R. of China, Mexico, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Russia, Indonesia, Taiwan

Major Import Markets (2008):  United States, P.R. of China, Mexico, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy, France, United Kingdom

Major Products Exported from Manitoba (ranked by value, 2008):  Agricultural products, metals and minerals, processed foods, vehicles and transport equipment, machinery, electrical energy, chemicals, plastics, wood products, pharmaceuticals

Major Products Imported in Manitoba (ranked by value, 2008):  Vehicles and transport equipment, machinery and parts, chemical products, electrical and electronic equipment, printed products, data processing equipment, furniture, agricultural products, textiles

Agricultural Commodities (ranked by value, 2008): Canola, wheat, hogs, cattle, dairy products, oats, poultry, barley, flaxseed, eggs

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