OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says total manufacturing sales rose to their highest level since September 2023 as they climbed 0.2 per cent to $72.9 billion in February.
The agency says it was the fifth consecutive monthly gain as sales rose in 11 of the 21 subsectors it tracks.
Sales of primary metals rose 8.3 per cent to a record $6.9 billion in February, helped by higher demand and prices for many non-ferrous metals, including alumina and aluminum products.
Chemical product sales gained 6.7 per cent to total $5.3 billion in February.
Sales in the petroleum and coal product subsector fell 5.2 per cent to $8.1 billion due to lower demand and, to a lesser extent, softer prices.
On a constant dollar basis, overall manufacturing sales were unchanged in February.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2025.
