Manitoba Key Economic Sectors

Key economic sectors in Manitoba are among others Aerospace, Agricultural business: Food Processing, Agricultural business Manufacturing & Technology, Biotechnology & Life Sciences, Building Products, Electricity & Natural Gas, Environmental Industries, Financial Services, Information & Communications Technology, Media Industries, Mining, Minerals & Petroleum, Tourism, Transportation Equipment Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics, Wood Products, Safety & Security Industry.

Read on to find out more about the economical highlights in the region.

Overview: Economic Highlights

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

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 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.

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