OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales fell three per cent to $68.7 billion in January as motor vehicle sales dropped to their lowest level since September 2021.
The agency says the transportation equipment subsector fell 18.2 per cent as motor vehicle sales dropped 38.9 per cent and motor vehicle parts sales lost 7.7 per cent.
Statistics Canada noted the drop came as several major auto assembly plants in Ontario extended their winter shutdowns from December to January to complete model change retooling and production line maintenance, resulting in lower production.
Overall, sales were down in 11 of the 21 subsectors.
Machinery manufacturing sales fell 5.6 per cent, while the miscellaneous manufacturing subsector rose 16.8 per cent to $1.5 billion in January, the highest level on record.
In constant dollars, total manufacturing sales fell 3.9 per cent in January.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2026.
