Canadian airport duty free sales up +6% in June to C$45.5million

CANADA. Airport duty free sales in Canada were up +6% year-on-year in June, to C$45.5million (US$35.1 million).

Land border sales grew +5% to C$15.9 million (US$12.3 million), according to figures from the Canadian Border Services Agency (and reported by the Frontier Duty Free Association).

In the first six months of 2018, airport duty free sales increased +6.8% to C$232.6million (US$179.4 million). Land border sales rose +2% to C$64.5million (US$49.8million).

Sales in the Pacific region in June were up +6% to nearly C$2.3 million (US$4.9 million). The region recorded a near +7% increase in the first six months of 2018, to over C$10.6 million (US$8.2 million)

The Prairie region recorded a +4.7% sales increase in June to nearly $800,000 (US$617,335), and a near +4% rise in the first six months, to over C$3.9 million (US$3 million).

In the Ontario region, sales reached nearly C$8.8 million (US$6.8 million) in June, a rise of over +2%. In the first six months, sales were over C$36 million (US$27.8 million), a marginal increase on 2017.

The Atlantic/Quebec region posted +10.5% sales growth in June, to nearly C$4 million (US$3.1 million). For January-June 2018, Atlantic and Quebec regions sales were over C$13 million (US$10 million), up nearly +2% compared to same period 2017.

The main categories that dominated sales in land border duty free in June were as follows (in order of sales highest to lowest):

1. Alcohol (spirits, liqueurs, wine, coolers)
2. Tobacco, Cigars, Loose Tobacco
3. Perfume, Cosmetics, Skincare
4. Food
5. Beer (beer, malt-based coolers)
6. Jewellery, Watches, Clocks
7. Accessories (purses, wallets, sunglasses, etc.)
8. Clothing (including hats, fur, leather)
9. Souvenirs
10. Office and Travel Supplies
11. Other
12. Electronics, Cameras, Binoculars, etc.
13. Glassware, crystal, china, figurines, porcelain
14. Crafts/Arts