CANADA. Land border sales in Canada fell -7% year-on-year in February, to C$7.4 million (US$5.6 million). However, airport duty free sales were up +4% to C$35 million (US$26.4 million), according to figures from the Canadian Border Services Agency (and reported by the Frontier Duty Free Association).
In the first two months of 2017, land border sales were down -6% year-on-year, to C$15 million (US$11.3 million). Airport duty free sales increased +7%, to C$68 million (US$51.3 million).
All regional areas recorded a land border sales decrease in February. The Frontier Duty Free Association said some largely attributed this to the “27 January US travel ban announcement, which created [a situation where] many North Americans [were] not wanting to travel due to confusion on rules/regulations”.
Ontario sales were down -3.25% to C$4 million (US$3 million) in February, and fell -3% in the first two months to C$9 million (US$6.8 million).
In the Atlantic/Quebec region, February sales dropped -12% to C$1.2 million (US$906,144). In January/February the decrease was -6.5%, to C$2.6 million (US$2 million).
Pacific sales figures for February were C$1.2 million (US$906,144), a -17% decline. The figure was C$2.5 million (US$1.9 million) for the first two months, a decrease of -15%.
In the Prairie region, sales fell -1% in February to C$532,000 (US$401,750), and -2.8% in the first two months to C$1 million (US$755,131).
The main categories that dominated sales in land border duty free in February 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
- Glassware, crystal, china, figurines, porcelain
- Other
- Crafts/Arts
- Electronics, Cameras, Binoculars, etc.
