B.C. manufacturing sales rose 2% in June, reversing the sales decline in May, according to updated Statistics Canada data released Friday.
Sales rose to $2.71 billion in June from $2.66 billion in May. May manufacturing sales were 1.5% below April sales of $2.7 billion.
B.C.'s sales increase trailed only New Brunswick's 7.2% increase and Quebec's 5.7% increase in June.
Quebec's sales increase was driven by aerospace production which rose 82.5% to $1.1 billion. Non-metallic mineral products, fabricated metal products, food and petroleum and coal products also contributed to Quebec's increase in June. Quebec's gains in June partially offset its 8.6% decline in May.
Nationally, manufacturing sales rose 1.9% to $39.7 billion, partially reversing a 4.9% decline in May. Strong aerospace sales in Quebec and the price of petroleum and coal products were the main contributors to the monthly increase. Aerospace sales rose 61% nationally to $1.6 billion while petroleum and coal product sales rose 6.9% reflecting higher prices for petroleum products.
Excluding both sectors, Canada's manufacturing sales would have fallen 0.5% in June.
Ontario continued to suffer with continued declines in motor vehicle manufacturing sales which fell 6% in June following a 20.8% drop in May. Motor vehicle parts manufacturing also fell 0.1% in June.