The total value of unfilled orders rose 1.7% to $100.7 billion in March, the highest level since May 2020, on higher unfilled orders in the ship and boat building (+59.6%) and computer and electronic products (+9.8%) industries, Statistics Canada records show.
The gains were partially offset by a 1.1% decline in unfilled orders of aerospace products and parts.
The total value of new orders reached a new record high, rising 1.4% to $71.9 billion in March, driven mostly by higher new orders of ship and boat building, computer and electronics product, and petroleum and coal product industries.