CANADA. Airport duty free sales in Canada surged +17% year-on-year in March, to C$41.6 million (US$32.5 million).
Land border sales also rose +14% to C$9.86 million (US%7.7 million), according to figures from the Canadian Border Services Agency (and reported by the Frontier Duty Free Association).
In the first three months of 2018, airport duty free sales increased +8.6%, to C$113.1 million (US$88.3 million). Land border sales were up +3.18% to C$24.7 million (US$19.3 million).
Ontario sales increased +13% to C$5.8 million (US$4.5 million) in March, and were up +2.5% in the first three months to C$14.5 million (US$11.3 million).
In the Atlantic/Quebec region, March sales rose +6% to C$1.5 million (US$1.2 million). Between January and March sales decreased -2%, to C$4 million (US$3.1 million).
Pacific sales figures for March were C$1.8 million (US$1.4 million), a nearly +25% increase. The figure was C$4.4 million (US$3.4 million) for the first three months, a +11% rise.
In the Prairie region, sales increased +8% in March to C$663,000 (US$518,000), and +5% in the first three months to C$1.7 million (US$1.3 million).
The main categories that dominated sales in land border duty free in March were as follows (in order of sales highest to lowest):
Alcohol (liquor, liqueur, wine, coolers)
Tobacco, Cigars, Loose Tobacco
Perfume, Cosmetics, Skincare
Food
Beer (beer, malt-based coolers)
Jewellery, Watches, Clocks
Accessories (purses, wallets, sunglasses, etc.)
Clothing (including hats, fur, leather)
Souvenirs
Office and Travel Supplies
Other
Electronics, Cameras, Binoculars, etc.
Glassware, crystal, china, figurines, porcelain
Crafts/Arts
