Calgary companies are spreading their wings across the globe, with new data showing a major shift away from reliance on American markets following last year's tariff uncertainty.

Calgary Economic Development reports that only 24 per cent of trade deals it supported in 2025 went to U.S. customers, down from 35 per cent in 2024. Instead, local businesses are finding success across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and beyond. Companies expanded into 21 countries across six continents last year, spanning sectors from clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and agrifoods to digital tech, life sciences, and aerospace.

The diversification is paying off. CED-supported companies secured $60 million in trade revenue through 45 international deals and created 187 jobs through business expansions in 2025. That trade revenue jumped roughly 500 per cent year-over-year as firms landed larger contracts in new markets.

Brad Parry, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, said Alberta companies aren't shying away from growth despite uncertainty. He said businesses are intentionally expanding into new global markets, taking advantage of Canada's trade agreements and forming strategic partnerships to future-proof their growth.

Casa Bonita Inc., which participated in FoodEx Japan with CED, secured partners in Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Australia that now outpace its former main export market in the U.S. ZeroSound Systems used CED's Trade Accelerator Program to establish presence in the UAE and Australia, close deals in Italy, and deliver projects in Chile.

CED plans to expand its trade support services in 2026, with new programming launching in the second quarter to help Alberta companies diversify faster and enter priority markets.