Canada has a longstanding strong commercial relationship with Sweden. With like-minded approaches to openness and free trade, underpinned by innovation and a focus on the green transition, many Swedish businesses have made Canada their home or found partners in Canadian industries.
This report presents the 2025 edition of our Business Climate Survey of Swedish companies
operating in Canada. It demonstrates that while the business climate is mixed, Swedish firms operating in Canada are performing positively and are cautiously optimistic, with 79 per cent of respondents reporting they were profitable last year and 51 per cent expecting to increase local investments this year.
Canada has been greatly affected by the impact of US tariffs on global trade and the international economy. These new challenges have added new uncertainties to those still lingering after the Covid-19 pandemic – such as supply chain issues, inflation, and workforce shortages. Yet, this allows new opportunities to arise for Sweden and Canada to build on existing strong trade and diplomatic relations for deeper collaborations.
The ‘Swedish brand’ is a strong differentiator for companies seeking to establish and grow their presence in Canada. Overall, the findings indicate that Canadian consumers have a strong affinity for Swedish-branded products. Many respondents report that Canadians frequently associate Sweden with quality, transparency and innovation – qualities that reflect positively on Swedish businesses.
Canadians are developing new preferences for goods and services. More and more are looking for brands that support Canadian farmers, create Canadian jobs, and are sold through Canadian retailers. For Swedish firms, this presents an opportunity to introduce new products or strengthen existing ones by prioritising local partnerships and supply chain transparency as part of a Canada-aligned brand identity.
Want to read a full overview of the survey results with detailed analysis? Download the report today.
ABOUT THE SURVEY
To gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of Swedish companies operating abroad, Team Sweden conducts annual Business Climate Surveys in markets around the world. This year’s Business Climate Survey for Canada was conducted with the participation of 39 Swedish companies active in the Canadian market. The respondents represent a diverse range of business profiles and sizes.
We sincerely thank all participants for their valuable insights, which have been instrumental in shaping this year’s edition of the Business Climate Survey for Canada. Team Sweden in Canada is proud to continue promoting trade relations between Sweden and Canada and supporting the growth and further integration of Swedish companies within the Canadian market.
