Quebec's maple syrup reserve hits zero as demand surges

Analysis

Quebec's official maple syrup reserve is empty, drained by a surge in demand that has left the industry without its traditional safety net.

"Our strategic reserve has been reduced to zero," said Luc Goulet, president of the Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, known by its French acronym PPAQ.

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Simon Doré-Ouellet, the federation's deputy director-general, said the warehouses will be at zero by the end of February.

The reserve, managed by the government-sanctioned cartel, is designed to stabilize supply and pricing when weather yields a lower crop.

Its three warehouses have a combined capacity of 133 million pounds.

"This is the first time we're seeing a situation like this," Doré-Ouellet said. "There's much more inventory in the hands of our big buyers than in the past."

Fear of losing shelf space

Industry leaders warn that without a buffer, a poor harvest could lead to shortages and lost customers.

Goulet cited shortages in 2007 and 2008 as an example.

"We lost some markets because the product wasn't available," Goulet said. "Then, consumers very quickly turn to another sweet product. And once that happens, those consumption habits are established."

Louis Turenne, president of Quebec's Maple Industry Council, which represents bulk buyers and processors, echoed the concern.

"There's no safety net," Turenne said. "It can be long path to get back on the shelf if we lose space to other sweet products."

Those other options include corn syrup, molasses or honey.

Demand driven by U.S. stockpiling

The depletion follows a period of strong export growth and stockpiling by U.S. commercial customers.

Canadian maple syrup exports grew 15.8 per cent year over year in 2025 and 9.3 per cent in 2024, federal data show.

Turenne said exports increased by 9.34 per cent in 2024 and 15.8 per cent in 2025 as the threat of U.S. tariffs loomed.

"Processors have boosted their inventories to guard against a possible rupture" in syrup availability, Turenne said.

Quebec produces about 70 per cent of the world's maple syrup, and roughly 65 per cent of annual output goes to the United States.

Bulk buyers and processors, such as Rogers Sugar Inc. and Les Industries Bernard & Fils, have been snapping up higher volumes.

Turenne called for a major acceleration in production to meet demand.

Calls for government support

Industry officials say government support is crucial for growth and market diversification.

"Investments from Quebec City are too low for our liking," Goulet said.

He hopes to have the ear of the newly elected Parti Québécois minority government.

"When we're told that we have an industry that's thriving, that we're growing, and that we don't need support, well, I no longer accept that line of reasoning at the government level," Goulet said.

The Parti Québécois recently proposed bringing in 50,000 new hectares of public forest for maple syrup production and considering a "national maple policy."

Turenne believes Quebec could encourage increased production by providing financial support to producers and helping processors find new markets abroad.

"We need to accelerate the opening and development of European, Australian, and Asian markets to become less dependent on the U.S. market," Turenne said.

He noted that 20 years ago, 80 per cent of exports went to the U.S., compared to nearly 65 per cent now.

The PPAQ has offered about 21 million tree taps over the past five years, attracting hundreds of new producers.

But Doré-Ouellet acknowledged significant challenges remain for farmers, including securing financial backing.

The maple syrup industry contributed $1.21 billion to Quebec's GDP in 2025 and employs more than 10,000 full time equivalent workers, according to an industry report.

Goulet said the industry used the recent election campaign to highlight its economic importance.

"In some municipalities, if you take away maple syrup production, you might as well shut down the villages," Goulet said.

With files from The Canadian Press, The Globe and Mail and CBC News