CANADA. The Canadian Border Services Agency has reported mixed growth in the country’s duty free sales in April. Airports continued the strong growth experienced in the first quarter, while border operators were only marginally up on the same month last year.
Airports in Canada achieved a +9.7% increase in duty free sales in April compared to the same month in 2011, reaching C$19 million. Airport sales for the year to the end of April have grown by +11%, to C$79 million.
Border duty free sales reached C$9.8 million in April, up by just 0.6% on the same month last year. Sales for 2012 to the end of April reached C$33.7 million, up by 3% on the same period in 2011.
National Airport Sales
 |
Click here to view the enlarged image |
National Land Border Sales
 |
Click here to view the enlarged image |
By region, border duty free sales evolved as follows:
The Prairie region achieved sales of C$711,000 in April (+4%) and C$2.7 million for the year to the end of April (+5%).
Sales in the Pacific region reached C$1.9 million in April (+4.45%) and C$6.2 million for the year to the end of April. (+3.45%).
In Ontario sales grew to C$5.3 million in April (+0.93%) and C$18.9 million for the year so far (+3.22%).
And in the Atlantic/Quebec region sales reached C$1.8 million in April (-5%) and C$5.8 million for the year to the end of April (+0.37%).
The main categories that dominate sales in land border duty free are as follows (in order of sales highest to lowest – based on April 2012 numbers):
1. Alcohol (liquor, liqueur, wine, coolers)
2. Tobacco, Cigars, Loose Tobacco
3. Perfume, Cosmetics, Skincare
4. Beer (beer, malt-based coolers)
5. Food
6. Jewellery, Watches, Clocks
7. Accessories (purses, wallets, sunglasses, etc.)
8. Clothing (including hats, fur, leather)
9. Souvenirs
10. Office and Travel Supplies
11. Glassware, crystal, china, figurines, porcelain
12. Other
13. Crafts/Arts
14. Electronics, Cameras, Binoculars, etc.
