Investing.com - Canada’s total manufacturing sales rose 4.2% to $77.1 billion in April, following a 3.4% increase in March, Statistics Canada reported on Monday. Sales increased in 17 of the 21 subsectors, led by petroleum and coal products, which jumped 22.6%, and food products, which gained 2.9%. Primary metals sales fell 4.6%, the largest decline among subsectors.
Petroleum and coal product sales reached a record high of $11.8 billion in April, driven primarily by higher volumes as sales in constant dollars rose 17.5%. Several refineries ramped up production after maintenance shutdowns in March. The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz continued to exert upward pressure on energy and petroleum product prices in April, reflecting heightened supply concerns in international markets. Exports of refined petroleum energy products, including liquid biofuels, increased 56.3% month over month.
Food product sales reached a record high of $13.9 billion in April, up 2.9%, with sales in constant dollars rising 2.4%. Higher sales of grain and oilseed milling contributed most to the increase. Primary metal subsector sales fell 4.6% to $6.3 billion, with declines across all primary metal industry groups except foundries.
Alberta posted the largest provincial increase, with sales rising 16.7% to a record $10.5 billion in April. Quebec sales rose 4.2% to a record $20.0 billion, driven largely by petroleum and coal products, which gained 24.8%. Manitoba recorded the largest decrease, down 6.1% to $2.3 billion, mainly due to lower production of aerospace products and parts.
Total inventories rose 0.5% to $125.0 billion in April, with increases in 13 of the 21 subsectors. The inventory-to-sales ratio declined from 1.68 in March to 1.62 in April, the lowest since January 2023. Unfilled orders reached a record high, rising 1.3% to $123.2 billion, driven mainly by transportation equipment and primary metal subsectors.
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