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Cannabis Production in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Shawn McGrath Shawn McGrath New York, United States Last Updated: July 2024 NAICS 11141CA

Revenue

$12.6bn

2024

$12.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

87,697

Businesses

1,306

Wages

$X.Xbn

Cannabis Production in Canada industry analysis

Cannabis producers in Canada have blossomed in recent years as recreational products were legalized in 2018, opening up massive growth. Since Health Canada opened up medicinal cannabis production to more players in 2013, producers have grown continuously as they invest in production capabilities to produce quality products. As consumers shifted from illegal cannabis purchases to the licensed recreational market, cannabis growers have grown significantly, but revenue is expected to contract 1.0% in 2024 alone as the novelty of legal cannabis has worn off and most the black market has shifted to licensed purchases, which has decreased growth. Revenue has ballooned at a CAGR of 29.4% to reach $12.6 billion over the past five years.

Trends and Insights

  • Cannabis producers have had atmospheric growth in recent years, which has started to slow. Recreational cannabis was legalized in 2018, which created a new market for these companies.
  • The youngest Canadians have an outsized share of revenue. They have the most positive attitudes regarding cannabis and are more likely to purchase recreational products.
  • There are few cannabis producers in the territories. Sparse populations and brutal climates make it difficult to attract employees and grow cannabis.
  • Barriers to entry are extremely high for Canadian cannabis producers. Regulatory hurdles are intense and start-up costs are significant.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 29.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $12.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Recreational growth has slowed drastically since legalization

  • The federal government passed the Cannabis Act, which came into effect in 2018. This made Canada the second country to completely legalize the recreational use of cannabis products.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Cannabis Production in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Changing regulations will dictate the future

  • Regulations have decreased drastically over the past decade. Prior to 2013, there was only one company permitted to grow and process cannabis, while recreational products became legal in 2018 and edibles followed suit in 2019.

Biggest companies in the Cannabis Production in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Aurora Cannabis Inc.
144.4
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Cannabis Production in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Recreational dried cannabis, Medicinal dried cannabis and Recreational cannabis oil and concentrates. Recreational dried cannabis is the largest segment of the Cannabis Production in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Recreational oils are the biggest grower for cannabis producers

  • Cannabis extracts became much more attractive after edible cannabis products were legalized in 2019. These products include anything created by an extraction process, including kief, hash, butane hash oil and tinctures.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Cannabis Production industry in Canada includes all companies licensed by Health Canada to cultivate, produce and sell products containing marijuana for medical and recreational consumption. The value of medical marijuana grown privately and illegal purchases of cannabis products for recreational use are both excluded from this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Growing marijuana Retailing marijuana productsProcessing marijuana into derivatives and consumer productsDistributing marijuana products

Companies

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CANNABISDISPENSARYEDIBLESJOINT

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 111412 - Cannabis Production in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Cannabis producers have had atmospheric growth in recent years, which has started to slow. Recreational cannabis was legalized in 2018, which created a new market for these c...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The youngest Canadians have an outsized share of revenue. They have the most positive attitudes regarding cannabis and are more likely to purchase recreational products.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

There are few cannabis producers in the territories. Sparse populations and brutal climates make it difficult to attract employees and grow cannabis.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Barriers to entry are extremely high for Canadian cannabis producers. Regulatory hurdles are intense and start-up costs are significant.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Market share has been shrinking for major cannabis producers. New players have flooded the market, diluting market share.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Aurora Cannabis Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Aurora Cannabis Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Cannabis growers are highly regulated. Recreational cannabis has been legal for five years and provincial and federal governments are still figuring out the proper regulatory...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Research and development is a crucial part of spending for cannabis producers. This pushes other costs upward as a share of revenue.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Cannabis Production industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Cannabis Production industry in Canada is $12.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Cannabis Production in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 1,306 businesses in the Cannabis Production industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 39.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Cannabis Production industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Cannabis Production industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 29.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Cannabis Production industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Cannabis Production industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Cannabis Production market in Canada?

The biggest company operating in the Cannabis Production market in Canada is Aurora Cannabis Inc.

What does the Cannabis Production in Canada include?

Growing marijuana and Retailing marijuana products are part of the Cannabis Production industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Cannabis Production in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Aurora Cannabis Inc..

How competitive is the Cannabis Production industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Cannabis Production industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.