How Much Maple Syrup Does Canada Produce? — Must-Know Facts and Stats

Let’s be honest: Plenty of breakfast food would taste bland without maple syrup. Can you imagine your pancakes with no topping? You may as well be eating bread.

But, how much do you know about this amber liquid? We are all proud that most of it comes from Canada, but how much maple syrup does Canada produce? What are some other statistics you should know about maple syrup’s journey from Canadian trees to your pancakes? Let’s check them out.

Top 10 Canadian Maple Syrup Facts You Need to Know

  • Canada produces 85% of the world’s maple syrup.
  • 2020 was a record harvest year, with 14.3 million gallons of syrup produced.
  • Québec is behind 92% of Canadian maple syrup production.
  • Canada exported 7.6 million gallons of maple syrup in 2021.
  • Québec had to access its national reserves to meet the increased demand.
  • In 2020, Canada exported its maple products to 68 different countries worldwide.
  • The US, the second-largest producer, produced 66.7% less maple syrup than Canada in 2020.
  • The maple syrup harvest fell by 21% year-over-year in 2021.
  • Maple sugar available for consumption in 2020 rose by 8.3% year-over-year.
  • In 2020, Canadian maple product exports were worth more than $486.3 million.

Maple Syrup Production in Canada

The Canadian maple syrup industry is constantly growing, but it did suffer some damage in these trying times. While 2020 production statistics were very encouraging, the stats for 2021 showed something of a downturn.

1. Canada produces 85% of the world’s maple syrup.

(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Canada takes pride in being the number one producer of maple syrup, a product enjoyed in approximately 68 countries worldwide. The maple tree and its most famous product is an essential part of the country’s national heritage – just think of the Canadian maple leaf on the flag.

On a more practical note, maple syrup is a healthier alternative to cane sugar and sweeteners and has a more layered taste. Canada produces not only syrup, but maple sugar, butter, candy, and a full range of maple products to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.

2. The maple syrup harvest fell by 21% in 2021, compared to 2020.

(Statistics Canada)

The climate change-induced weather conditions spare no one, not even the maple syrup production in Canada. Warm spring temperatures at the beginning of the year affected all significant maple-producing regions, reducing the harvest to 11.3 million gallons of maple syrup, 3 million less than in 2020.

3. 2020 was a record harvest year, surpassing 2019’s record by 8.3%.

(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

In 2020, Canadian maple producers gathered 14.3 million gallons of maple syrup. This was the second record-breaking year for maple syrup in a row, as Canada’s favourable temperatures allowed for an excellent harvest. The 2019 record amounted to 13.2 million gallons.

4. Maple syrup production almost tripled between 2008 and 2020.

(Statista)

In 2008, maple syrup industry statistics showed that Canada produced “only” 5.1 million gallons of maple syrup. Compared to 2020’s 14.3 million, it is easy to see that production nearly tripled in these 12 years. However, not every year in-between was a good year – 2015 and 2018 were the most recent not-so-favourable years when the production hadn’t reached 10 million gallons.

5. Québec producers are responsible for 92% of all Canadian maple syrup production.

(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Québec is the leading province for maple syrup production, responsible for almost all maple syrup farming. The two other significant producers are New Brunswick and Ontario, although they held only 4% and 3% of the overall product market in 2020. Nova Scotia’s maple syrup farms contributed 56 thousand gallons in 2020 – 0.4% of that year’s production.

6. Québec’s 2021 harvest was primarily responsible for the 3.2 million gallon reduction in production.

(Statistics Canada)

According to the Québec maple syrup statistics, the province’s production fell significantly in 2021. Other large producers also reported a decline: Ontario’s production fell from 467,000 in 2020 to 461,900 thousand in 2021. However, New Brunswick was the exception, as its production grew from 561,000 gallons in 2020 to 785,700 gallons in 2021.

7. Due to the excellent harvest, the reserves of maple sugar available for consumption in 2020 increased by nearly 250%.

(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Since high-quality Canadian maple syrup is considered a healthier alternative to cane sugar, other maple products, such as maple sugar, reap the rewards of this reputation. In 2020, maple sugar reserves in Canada more than doubled.

8. The US is the second-largest maple syrup producer, producing 69% less than Canada in 2020.

(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

The United States was the second-largest producer of maple syrup in 2020, with a production total of nearly 4.4 million gallons. More than a half (51%) of the nation’s maple syrup production comes from Vermont, followed by New York with 18%.

Maple Syrup Export Statistics

Do Canadians keep all the syrup for their own pancakes, or is it finding its way to breakfast tables worldwide? Here are some exciting export statistics to tell us all about it:

9. Canada exported 7.6 million gallons of maple syrup in 2021.

(Statistics Canada)

If you were wondering, “How much maple syrup does Canada export?” the answer is – a lot. And after the record harvest of 2020, the producers were ill-prepared for the demand it created for the following year. The global sweet tooth for this Canadian goodie grew in 2021, and Canada marked a 21.4% increase in exports throughout the first three quarters of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020. It also had to tap into its national reserves to meet it.

10. The Federation of Québec released 50 million pounds from its maple syrup reserves to meet 2021 demand.

(CNN)

In November of 2021, Canada’s Federation of Québec announced releasing nearly half its strategic maple syrup reserves. The reserve was created to prevent shortages due to a bad harvest or increased demand. Shockingly enough, this wasn’t the first time Canada maple syrup reserves made the news. Between 2011 and 2012, 3,000 tons of maple syrup were stolen from the reserves in what is now known as the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. Luckily, nearly two-thirds of the stolen maple syrup have been recovered.

11. In 2020, Canadian maple product exports were worth nearly CA$520 million.

(Statista)

Overall, the gross value of Canada’s maple products in 2020 amounted to CA$558.5 million. In 2019, that value was approximately CA$430 million. The numbers for 2021 have yet to be published, so it remains to be seen how the growing demand and lower harvest amount will influence them.

12. In 2020, Canada exported its maple products to 68 countries.

(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Unsurprisingly, the most significant chunk of Canada’s maple exports goes to the United States – 59.1% of them. The second country with a substantial craving for Canada’s maple products is Germany, with 9.8%, the United Kingdom with 6.0%, and Australia with 5.2%. Japan and France import 4.8% and 4.4%, respectively, while other countries distribute the remaining 10.8%. With all these exports listed, you might be wondering how much maple syrup does Canada consume? Since there’s roughly one maple producer for every 2,500 people in Canada, and maple syrup is eaten with everything, it’s safe to assume that most of the 4.3 million gallons that stayed in Canada reached someone’s breakfast table.

13. Surprisingly, Canada was also the 8th-largest maple syrup and products importer for 2020.

(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

It would seem that the “grass is always greener” proverb applies to the maple syrup industry, as well. The United States is the second-biggest producer of maple syrup, but it’s also the largest importer worldwide by both value and volume, as it’s responsible for 49% of all imported maple syrup, most of it from Canada. On the other hand, Canada also has maple syrup imports, ranked 8th by value, 5th by volume, and originating from the United States.

14. Canada’s maple exports increased by 179% between 2004 and 2019.

(Québec Maple Syrup Producers)

It is interesting to know that, back in 2005, the maple syrup industry was not nearly as developed as it is nowadays. According to the association for maple syrup production in Québec, it took approximately $15 million invested into over 100 research projects for maple syrup to evolve into the product we love today.

In Conclusion

All in all, despite a bad harvest year, the maple syrup industry and demand continue to grow. As the new harvest approaches and everybody is getting ready to make the golden liquid, here’s hoping that we’ll have more than enough of it in 2022.

FAQ

Does Canada have a stockpile of maple syrup?

Yes, Canada has a stockpile of maply syrup, ready to fill in the production/demand gap. Laurierville, about 70 kilometres from Québec City, Canada, has room to stockpile 55 million pounds of maple syrup. One of the fun facts about maple syrup is that Canada’s liquid gold is worth more than oil, which is why this reserve fell victim to an unusual heist in 2011.

Where does Canada export their maple syrup?

The largest importer of Canada’s maple syrup export is the US, which imports 59.1%. The next in line is Germany, importing 9.8%, the United Kingdom with 6.0%, and Australia with 5.2%.

What percent of maple syrup does Canada produce?

Canada is currently responsible for producing about 85% of the world’s maple syrup. The US is the second-largest, but it makes barely one-third of Canada’s annual production. But, how much maple syrup does Canada produce? In 2020, it made 14.3 million gallons of the golden liquid.

Sources:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

CNN

Québec Maple Syrup Producers

Statista

Statistics Canada

Doroteja Balaban

Doroteja is a content creator and language play enthusiast with a penchant for noticing links between seemingly unrelated ideas. She puts this observational quirk to use in her career as a content writer, researching and writing compelling articles and blog posts about education, health, fitness, ecommerce, pets, and science. When not working, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, exploring different types of coffee, and trying to make puns work in different languages.

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