In 2022, Canadian oat exports reached 1.26 million tonnes, valued at approximately US $445 million, with the United States receiving about 96% of Canadian oat export volumes. Overall, 81% of Canada’s oat exports go to the U.S., representing 56% of the global oat import market.
Domestically, oats are used across several segments: the feed market, human consumption (milling), and seed, as well as the high-end performance or pony oats for racehorses. While precise percentages for each category aren’t always current, feed use remains predominant—roughly 500,000–550,000 tonnes annually. By comparison, only modest shares likely go to human consumption and seed use, echoing historic estimates of around 4% each.
The horse-feed niche, especially “performance oats,” continues to demand the highest quality: oats that are plump, bright, and of high-test weight, typically at or above the Canadian Grain Commission’s No. 1 grade standard. These grains are often shipped raw in bulk or bagged, with the bagged varieties undergoing extra processing—double re-cleaning and clipping—to boost weight and consistency. This processing produces fine by-products like dust and screenings, which are also commercially sold.
The 2023/24 marketing year saw oat exports grow by 16%, from 2.3 million tonnes (as of July 31, 2022) to 2.7 million tonnes (as of July 31, 2023). Prices remain volatile: farm-gate oat prices hit record-per-tonne highs in 2022 (e.g., $625/t in Manitoba, $617/t in Saskatchewan), though they have since moderated.
Looking forward, planting intentions for oats are up by 2.7% in 2025–26, and overall output for grains (including oats) is expected to rise, suggesting modest increases in both domestic use (especially livestock and horse feed) and exports.
Canadian Oats: Production, Trade, and Market Dynamics in the 2020s
