![[OC] Where Canadian vehicle exports go - 193,000 cars in 10 weeks, 62% to one country](https://www.byteseu.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ktbg2r3c2yhg1-1024x533.png "[OC] Where Canadian vehicle exports go – 193,000 cars in 10 weeks, 62% to one country")
Got my hands on Canadian customs vehicle export data (HS 8703) from Oct-Dec 2024. Nearly 200k vehicles left Canada in just 10 weeks.
The concentration blew my mind:
- 62% → Ivory Coast (119,677 vehicles)
- 15% → Cameroon
- 97% left through Port of Montreal
Top exported makes: Hyundai (27%), Kia (11%), Nissan (10%), Chevrolet (8%), Toyota (7%)
Average vehicle age: 6.5 years. These are almost entirely used cars getting a second life in West Africa.
Source: CBSA export records via ATIP request A-2025-00657
Tools: Python, pandas, matplotlib, plotly
Posted by Kitchen-Suit9362
14 Comments
Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) export records, obtained via Access to Information request A-2025-00657. Data covers HS 8703 (motor vehicles for transport of persons) exports from October 20 – December 31, 2024.
Tools: Python (pandas, matplotlib, seaborn, plotly). Vehicle makes extracted from goods descriptions via pattern matching. Bulk shipment records contain multiple VINs per row.
Notes: VINs are partially redacted in source data, carrier names fully redacted. Quantity field used for vehicle counts (some records represent container shipments with hundreds of vehicles).
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There’s been a huge problem of cars getting stolen in Canada and getting shipped to west Africa, wonder if that’s showing up in this data
Seems like those are the ports where those vehicles go to, not necessarily the final destination
I’m surprised that Canada produces cars for countries that drive on the left – Australia & Thailand
Top 3 countries are missing from the map?! Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon.
it appears the countries shaded darkest in the first photo are actually nigeria and ghana rather than cameroon and the ivory coast though…
Is this why used car prices are so high?
We’re competing with other countries ?
Does anyone remember the Toyota Pickup used by ISIS?
Here is a fun story about the Canadian government trying to stimulate exports by making a deal to export Canadian built Chevy Malibus to Iraq.
[https://www.thedrive.com/news/35121/we-got-him-that-time-gm-sold-12500-terrible-chevy-malibus-to-saddam-hussein](https://www.thedrive.com/news/35121/we-got-him-that-time-gm-sold-12500-terrible-chevy-malibus-to-saddam-hussein)
isn’t 10 weeks a pretty short time, how many ships would that be? Or are these cars being loaded into containers and not dedicated car ships.
I don’t think that data is accurate unless it is after market exports.
https://www.cvma.ca/industry/facts/
Silly question but where is the US?
Ivory Coast and Cameroon are the highest yet they aren’t marked on the map…?