Economic benefits

The marine industry, an oceanful of advantages for Quebec’s region

The marine industry economic benefits are:

• 25 000 jobs on land and at sea
• 330 businesses
• A $2.3-billion share of Québec’s gross domestic product (GDP), representing 0,75% of GDP
• $1 billion in wages
• $600 million in tax receipts
• 147 million tonnes of cargo transhipped
•  ¾ of all transshipped goods are international goods.

Source: Quebec Marine Industry Economic Impact Study, SODES, 2012

Breakdown of marine companies by category in 2013

Source: Sectorial Study on Quebec’s marine industry human resources, CSMOIM, 2013 

St. Lawrence – Great Lakes trade corridor: a natural gateway for trade in North America

• 4th largest economic zone in North America after California, Texas and New York
• Almost 45% of international traffic in Canada
• 8 of Canada’s 15 biggest ports (in terms of tonnage handled in 2011) are located on the St. Lawrence–Great Lakes Trade Corridor
• In 2011, 4 of the biggest ports (in terms of tonnage handled) are located in Quebec (Québec, Montreal, Sept-Îles, Port Cartier)