Quebec's aerospace sector has emerged as the undisputed engine of the province's export recovery in July 2026. According to data released on September 18, 2026, by the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), seasonally adjusted international merchandise exports from Quebec, measured in constant dollars, surged 7.2% in July 2026 compared to the previous month — a sharp reversal from the 4.0% decline recorded in June. Leading this recovery was an exceptional performance from Quebec's aerospace industry, one of the province's most strategic and globally recognized economic pillars.
A spectacular leap for aircraft and aerospace equipment
ISQ data reveals that aircraft exports recorded a stunning 156.1% increase in July 2026 compared to June, ranking as the single largest contributor to Quebec's monthly export growth. At the same time, parts for aircraft and other aerospace equipment rose 17.0%, demonstrating that the growth is broad-based across the entire aerospace value chain — from airframe structures to embedded systems and precision avionics components.
Aluminum and aluminum alloys in unwrought form — a strategic raw material for Quebec's aerospace manufacturers — also posted a gain of 16.7%. These lightweight metals are central to the production of aircraft structures, fuselages, and high-precision components manufactured by the many aerospace SMEs that supply major OEMs such as Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and CAE. Iron ores and concentrates rounded out the positive picture with a 16.4% increase.
« Aircraft exports surged 156.1% in July 2026, placing aerospace at the heart of Quebec's export recovery. » — Institut de la statistique du Québec, September 18, 2026
Geographic diversification: a strategy bearing fruit
Beyond the strong monthly performance, data for the first seven months of 2026 reveals an important underlying trend: Quebec is actively diversifying its trade markets. While exports to the United States declined 6.3% (in current dollars, non-seasonally adjusted) compared to the same period in 2025, exports to all other countries increased 15.0% over the same timeframe. Overall, Quebec's total exports (including those to the US) declined by just 0.3% on a non-seasonally adjusted, current-dollar basis for the first seven months of the year — a result that underscores the resilience of Quebec industry in the face of ongoing US trade pressures.
For Quebec's aerospace sector — a large share of whose production is destined for international clients in Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America — this geographic diversification represents a major strategic opportunity. It also helps reduce dependence on the uncertainties of the US trade relationship, in a context of persistent tariff tensions that have weighed on bilateral trade throughout 2026. Montreal-based companies have long cultivated strong commercial ties across the globe, giving them the flexibility to adapt as market dynamics shift.
A drop in aircraft imports underscores the strength of local production
On the import side, July 2026 recorded an overall increase of 5.5% compared to June (following a 9.8% decline in June). This growth was mainly driven by primary forms and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals (+609.0%), bauxite and aluminum oxide (+43.9%), and lead and zinc ores and concentrates (+611.9%). These increases in metallurgical raw materials are consistent with a manufacturing industry in restocking mode and ramping up production activity.
Conversely, aircraft imports fell by 95.8% in July — a decline that, combined with the sharp rise in aircraft exports, points to an extremely favorable trade balance in this specific sector, a clear sign of a robust and competitive local industry operating at full capacity. For the first seven months of 2026, total Quebec imports grew 0.4% compared to the same period in 2025, a contained and manageable level.
Quebec outperforms the national trend
Quebec's July 2026 performance compares very favorably with that of Canada as a whole. According to Statistics Canada (data published September 3, 2026), Canadian merchandise exports, seasonally adjusted in constant dollars, fell 0.9% in July 2026, while imports declined 0.2%. Quebec, with its 7.2% export increase, stands out sharply from the national trend, propelled by the unmatched strength of its aerospace industry. For the first seven months of 2026, Canadian exports declined 1.0% while Quebec posted a steeper decline of 4.2% — reflecting its higher concentration toward the US market — but July's strong rebound bodes well for the remainder of the year and illustrates the sector's capacity for rapid recovery.
Positive signals for aerospace employment in Quebec
The significant increase in exports of aircraft and aerospace components in July 2026 sends an encouraging signal for employment in this strategic sector. Sustained international demand for Quebec aerospace products directly translates into increased needs for skilled workers: aeronautical and systems engineers, avionics technicians, composite manufacturing specialists, supply chain managers, regulatory certification and quality assurance experts, aeronautical sheet metal workers, and many other highly sought-after profiles across the industry.
Quebec's aerospace ecosystem, which comprises more than 700 companies and approximately 42,000 direct jobs — primarily concentrated in the Greater Montreal area, the second-largest aerospace hub in North America — benefits directly from these favorable export winds. Current trends suggest an intensification of recruitment activities in the coming months, both among major OEMs and the specialized SMEs that form the backbone of this internationally recognized industry of excellence.
Explore job opportunities in Quebec's aerospace industry
Are you a professional looking for a job in Quebec's aerospace industry? Or are you an employer seeking to recruit top industry talent? AeroEmploi is Quebec's reference aerospace job portal. Visit aeroemploi.ca today to discover the latest job openings, post your vacancies, and actively contribute to the growth of a sector that makes Quebec proud on the world stage. The July 2026 data confirms it: Quebec aerospace is thriving, and talent is at the heart of that success.