Manufacturing sales rose 2.6% to $49.2 billion in September, the third consecutive monthly increase, according to Statistics Canada data released this morning.
September’s gain largely reflected higher sales in petroleum and coal products and transportation equipment industries.
Sales of petroleum and coal were up 13.7% to $7.6 billion in September. The increase was the largest in percentage terms since March 1999.
The advance partly stemmed from higher volumes reported by some petroleum refineries following shutdowns for maintenance and expansion.
Higher sales were reported in 10 of 21 industries, representing 60.5% of total manufacturing.
In the transportation equipment industry, sales rose 7.1% and in the aerospace product and parts industry and production rose 17.0% to $1.6 billion, the highest level since July 2009.
Sales in the motor vehicle industry advanced 6.2% to $3.8 billion in September as several plants returned to full production.
Stronger manufacturing sales were reported in nine provinces in September. The top dollar contributors were Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario.
Jennifer Harrison