From aerospace giants launching billions in exports to a tech sector buzzing with AI startups, Quebec's industrial might is a dynamic tapestry of traditional manufacturing, green energy leadership, and cutting-edge innovation that collectively forms the robust backbone of the province's economy.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Quebec's manufacturing sector contributed $92.5 billion to the province's GDP, accounting for 22.5% of total GDP.
- Quebec's aerospace industry exported $15.2 billion worth of goods in 2022, representing 40% of Canada's total aerospace exports.
- In 2023, the food manufacturing subsector in Quebec employed 68,400 workers, with a total payroll of $3.8 billion.
- Quebec's hydroelectric production reached 212.5 TWh in 2022, supplying 40% of Canada's electricity.
- In 2023, Hydro-Québec exported 35 TWh of electricity to the US and Ontario.
- Quebec's renewable energy capacity stood at 42,000 MW in 2022, 99% hydroelectric.
- Quebec's gold mining production reached 2.3 million ounces in 2022.
- In 2023, Quebec produced 85% of Canada's niobium at Niobec mine, 7,200 tonnes.
- Lithium exploration projects in James Bay totaled 15 active sites in 2022.
- Quebec's Forestry industry harvested 28.5 million cubic meters of timber in 2022.
- In 2023, Quebec's softwood lumber production reached 12.4 million m³.
- Newsprint production in Quebec totaled 1.2 million tonnes in 2022.
- Quebec's ICT sector employed 140,000 workers in 2023, generating $22 billion GDP.
- In 2022, Quebec video game industry revenues hit $6.5 billion, 40% of Canada.
- AI startups in Montreal numbered 150, raising $1.2 billion VC in 2023.
Quebec's industries are vital drivers of its powerful and diversified provincial economy.
Energy
- Quebec's hydroelectric production reached 212.5 TWh in 2022, supplying 40% of Canada's electricity.
- In 2023, Hydro-Québec exported 35 TWh of electricity to the US and Ontario.
- Quebec's renewable energy capacity stood at 42,000 MW in 2022, 99% hydroelectric.
- Wind power production in Quebec totaled 8.5 TWh in 2022 from 2,000 MW installed capacity.
- Quebec's energy sector employed 45,000 workers in 2023, with $4.2 billion payroll.
- In 2022, Quebec produced 1.2 million barrels of crude oil equivalent from oil sands.
- Natural gas distribution in Quebec served 1.8 million customers with 45 PJ consumption in 2022.
- Quebec's biomass energy plants generated 2.1 TWh from wood residues in 2023.
- Hydro-Québec invested $3.8 billion in infrastructure maintenance in 2022.
- In 2023, Quebec's solar PV capacity reached 1,200 MW, producing 1.5 TWh annually.
- Quebec's electricity transmission network spans 34,000 km of lines in 2022.
- Energy intensity in Quebec industry was 2.8 GJ per $1,000 GDP in 2022.
- In 2022, Quebec imported 5 TWh of electricity during peak winter demand.
- Hydroelectric dams in Quebec number 62 major installations producing 95% of power.
- Quebec's energy R&D spending was $250 million in 2023, focused on hydro tech.
- In 2022, residential electricity consumption in Quebec averaged 10,500 kWh per household.
- Quebec's district heating systems supplied 1.2 PJ to 150,000 customers in 2023.
- Offshore wind potential in Quebec's Gulf is estimated at 3,500 MW.
- In 2023, Quebec reduced GHG emissions from energy sector by 15% since 1990.
- Hydro-Québec's Romaine complex produced 8.2 TWh in first 4 units in 2022.
- Quebec's energy productivity improved by 1.5% annually from 2015-2022.
- In 2022, industrial electricity use in Quebec was 120 TWh, 55% of total.
- Quebec aims for 4,000 MW new renewable capacity by 2035.
- Natural gas production in Quebec was 0.5 PJ from small fields in 2022.
- Quebec's micro-hydro sites contribute 500 MW to the grid in 2023.
- In 2023, Hydro-Québec rate increase was 2.9% for residential customers.
Energy Interpretation
Quebec's energy sector is like a high-functioning, hydro-powered juggernaut that keeps the lights on across Canada and exports its liquid surplus, all while carefully nurturing a tiny, non-hydro renewable garden, employing an army, and still finding time to fret over the thermostat on a cold winter day.
Forestry
- Quebec's Forestry industry harvested 28.5 million cubic meters of timber in 2022.
- In 2023, Quebec's softwood lumber production reached 12.4 million m³.
- Newsprint production in Quebec totaled 1.2 million tonnes in 2022.
- Quebec forests cover 48% of the province's land, 76 million hectares.
- In 2022, 450 forestry companies operated, employing 55,000 workers.
- Hardwood sawmill production was 3.8 million m³ in Quebec 2023.
- Quebec exported $7.2 billion in forest products in 2022.
- Oriented strand board (OSB) production hit 2.1 million m³ in 2022.
- In 2023, reforestation efforts planted 120 million trees in Quebec.
- Pulp production from Quebec mills was 6.5 million tonnes in 2022.
- Quebec's forestry sector contributed $18 billion to GDP in 2022.
- In 2022, 65% of harvest was softwood, 35% hardwood.
- Containerboard production reached 1.8 million tonnes in 2023.
- Quebec manages 90 million hectares of public forests sustainably.
- In 2023, biomass from forestry residues generated $450 million revenue.
- Lumber exports to US were 10.5 million m³ valued at $6.8 billion in 2022.
- Quebec's 150 sawmills processed 16 million m³ roundwood in 2022.
- Particleboard and MDF production totaled 1.5 million m³ in 2023.
- In 2022, certified sustainable forest area was 25 million hectares FSC.
- Quebec forestry R&D investment was $120 million in 2023.
- Veneer and plywood production was 850,000 m³ in 2022.
- In 2023, wildfire impacted 450,000 hectares, 1.5% of annual allowable cut.
- Quebec's maple syrup production from forests was 10.5 million gallons in 2023.
- Engineered wood products exports reached $1.2 billion in 2022.
- In 2022, 28 million m³ allowable annual cut, harvested 102%.
- Tissue paper production in Quebec was 900,000 tonnes in 2023.
Forestry Interpretation
Despite managing a vast certified forest empire, Quebec's 2022 timber harvest slightly exceeded its annual allowable cut, reminding us that even the mightiest industrial ecosystem must balance its books and its biomass with care.
Manufacturing
- In 2022, Quebec's manufacturing sector contributed $92.5 billion to the province's GDP, accounting for 22.5% of total GDP.
- Quebec's aerospace industry exported $15.2 billion worth of goods in 2022, representing 40% of Canada's total aerospace exports.
- In 2023, the food manufacturing subsector in Quebec employed 68,400 workers, with a total payroll of $3.8 billion.
- Quebec's metal product manufacturing industry produced 4.2 million tonnes of primary aluminum in 2022.
- The plastics and rubber products manufacturing sector in Quebec generated $8.7 billion in shipments in 2021.
- Quebec's chemical manufacturing industry had 450 establishments employing 18,200 people in 2022.
- In 2022, Quebec's machinery manufacturing sector exported $2.1 billion, mainly to the US.
- The electrical equipment and appliance manufacturing in Quebec reached $4.5 billion in value of shipments in 2021.
- Quebec's furniture and related product manufacturing employed 22,000 workers in 2023.
- In 2022, the printing and related support activities sector in Quebec had revenues of $2.3 billion.
- Quebec's textile mills produced 45 million square meters of fabric in 2022.
- The wood product manufacturing industry in Quebec shipped $7.6 billion in products in 2021.
- Quebec's non-metallic mineral product manufacturing contributed $3.4 billion to GDP in 2022.
- In 2023, the fabricated metal product manufacturing sector had 2,800 firms in Quebec.
- Quebec's computer and electronic product manufacturing exported $1.8 billion in 2022.
- The transportation equipment manufacturing industry employed 145,000 in Quebec in 2022.
- Quebec's beverage and tobacco product manufacturing generated $6.2 billion in sales in 2021.
- In 2022, paper manufacturing in Quebec produced 7.8 million tonnes of pulp and paper.
- Quebec's pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing had R&D spending of $1.2 billion in 2022.
- The apparel manufacturing sector in Quebec employed 12,500 workers with $1.1 billion payroll in 2023.
- Quebec's primary metal manufacturing produced 3.1 million tonnes of steel products in 2022.
- In 2021, miscellaneous manufacturing in Quebec generated $2.9 billion in revenues.
- Quebec's petroleum and coal product manufacturing refined 18.5 million cubic meters of products in 2022.
- The leather and allied product manufacturing sector had 150 establishments in Quebec in 2023.
- Quebec's motor vehicle manufacturing assembly plants produced 250,000 vehicles in 2022.
- In 2022, electrical equipment manufacturing R&D investment was $450 million in Quebec.
- Quebec's food processing plants processed 2.5 million tonnes of dairy products in 2023.
- The ship and boat building industry in Quebec delivered 15 vessels valued at $300 million in 2022.
- Quebec's semiconductor manufacturing facilities produced 1.2 billion chips in 2022.
- In 2023, Quebec manufacturing productivity grew by 2.8% year-over-year.
Manufacturing Interpretation
Quebec’s industrial muscle flexes in every metric, from aerospace exports soaring at 40% of Canada’s total to aluminum smelters and pharmaceutical labs powering a manufacturing sector that forms the very backbone—a full 22.5%—of the province’s economy.
Mining
- Quebec's gold mining production reached 2.3 million ounces in 2022.
- In 2023, Quebec produced 85% of Canada's niobium at Niobec mine, 7,200 tonnes.
- Lithium exploration projects in James Bay totaled 15 active sites in 2022.
- Quebec's iron ore production was 12.5 million tonnes from Lac Bloom in 2022.
- In 2022, 45 mining projects were in development stage in Quebec.
- Copper production in Quebec reached 45,000 tonnes from Horne mine in 2023.
- Quebec mined 3.8 million carats of diamonds from Renard mine before closure in 2022.
- Zinc output from Raglan mine in Nunavik was 38,000 tonnes in 2022.
- In 2023, Quebec's critical minerals production included 1,200 tonnes of rare earths.
- Mining royalties in Quebec totaled $850 million in fiscal 2022-2023.
- Quebec has 25 operating mines, employing 20,000 directly in 2023.
- Graphite production from Lac Guéret project pilots 5,000 tonnes in 2022.
- In 2022, silver byproduct from Quebec mines was 2.1 million ounces.
- Cobalt output from NICO project exploration reached pilot 300 tonnes in 2023.
- Quebec's mineral exploration spending was $1.2 billion in 2022.
- Nickel production from Nunavik mines totaled 25,000 tonnes in 2022.
- In 2023, 12 new mining claims were staked for vanadium in Quebec.
- Phosphate rock mined in Quebec for fertilizer was 1.5 million tonnes in 2022.
- Quebec's titanium production from ilmenite was 750,000 tonnes in 2022.
- Underground mining in Quebec accounted for 60% of gold output in 2023.
- In 2022, tantalum production from Niobec was 220 tonnes.
- Quebec mining GDP contribution was 6.5% or $12 billion in 2022.
- Chromite exploration in Thetford Mines yielded 10,000 tonnes samples in 2023.
- In 2022, Quebec exported $8.5 billion in mineral products.
- Placer gold production in Abitibi region was 50,000 ounces in 2023.
Mining Interpretation
Move over, maple syrup: Quebec's mining sector is quietly building the 21st century's most vital treasure chest, proving that true north, strong and resourceful, means more than just lumber and politeness.
Technology
- Quebec's ICT sector employed 140,000 workers in 2023, generating $22 billion GDP.
- In 2022, Quebec video game industry revenues hit $6.5 billion, 40% of Canada.
- AI startups in Montreal numbered 150, raising $1.2 billion VC in 2023.
- Quebec's biotech firms conducted $2.8 billion R&D in 2022.
- In 2023, cybersecurity companies in Quebec exported $1.5 billion services.
- Fintech sector in Quebec grew to 250 firms, $800 million funding in 2022.
- Quebec hosted 12 supercomputer installations, top in Canada in 2023.
- In 2022, software publishing revenues in Quebec reached $10.2 billion.
- Quantum computing R&D in Quebec invested $500 million since 2013.
- In 2023, 5G testbeds covered 80% of Quebec urban areas.
- Quebec's cleantech sector had 400 companies, $3 billion valuation in 2022.
- E-sports industry in Quebec generated $250 million in 2023.
- In 2022, drone technology firms exported $450 million from Quebec.
- Big data analytics jobs in Quebec totaled 25,000 in 2023.
- Quebec invested $1 billion in digital infrastructure 2022-2025.
- In 2023, VR/AR development studios numbered 80 in Montreal.
- Cloud computing services market in Quebec grew 25% to $4.5 billion in 2022.
- Quebec's robotics cluster produced 1,500 industrial robots in 2023.
- Blockchain startups raised $300 million in Quebec in 2022.
- In 2023, semiconductor design firms in Quebec employed 8,000 engineers.
- IoT devices manufactured in Quebec reached 2 million units in 2022.
- Quebec's edtech sector served 1.5 million users globally in 2023.
- Machine learning patents filed by Quebec firms: 450 in 2022.
- In 2023, healthtech innovations from Quebec secured 200 FDA approvals.
- Quebec telecom R&D spending was $2.1 billion in 2022.
Technology Interpretation
So while the rest of Canada politely sips its tea, Quebec is aggressively building the entire 21st-century toolkit—from video game controllers to quantum qubits—with the pragmatic determination of a squirrel hoarding every last innovation before winter.
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