Canada’s manufacturing sales rose 1.1% to $70.8 billion in April, driven higher by sales of transportation equipment, primary metals and chemical products.
Statistics Canada said April’s result was a bounce back following a decline of 1.8% in March of this year.
April’s sales got a boost from transportation equipment, which rose 4.1% in April as sales of motor vehicles increased 5.6% and motor vehicle parts gained 7.7%.
Additionally, sales of primary metals rose 4.7% helped by higher sales in the non-ferrous metal (except aluminum) production and processing industry group, which gained 15.7% in the month.
Partly offsetting the gains was a 6.8% decline in sales of aerospace products.
Wholesale Sales Rise
Statistics Canada also reported that wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons, rose 2.4% to $83.3 billion in April.
Wholesale sales increased in five of seven subsectors during the month.
The motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector increased 10.2% to $14.60 billion in April, its highest level since November 2023.
Meanwhile, the miscellaneous subsector increased 5.1% to $10.60 billion in April and the agriculture supplies sector rose 6.9%.
In volume terms, wholesale sales increased 2% in April.