Fabricated metal sales had a particularly strong showing in September in Alberta but dipped in Ontario. PHOTO courtesy BLM.
Manufacturing sales rose in five provinces in September, led by Alberta and Quebec, Statistics Canada reports. Ontario posted the largest decrease.
In Alberta, sales rose 4.3% to $9.1 billion in September, the third consecutive monthly increase, led by the petroleum and coal (+13.4%) and fabricated metal (+14.4%) product subsectors. On a quarterly basis, total sales in Alberta rose 6.3% to $26.1 billion in the third quarter of 2023.
Sales in Quebec increased 0.7% to $17.7 billion in September, mostly on higher sales of petroleum and coal products (+10.7%) and production of aerospace products and parts (+5.8%). The gains were partially offset by an 11.6% decline in sales of machinery. With the increase in September, total sales in Quebec were up 1.9% in the third quarter of 2023 and increased 0.3% on a yearly basis in September. In Québec, total sales rose 5.8% to $2.1 billion in September.
In Ontario, sales edged down 0.3% to $32.9 billion in September, mainly on lower sales of motor vehicle parts (-2.4%) and fabricated metals (-3.4%). The decline in sales of motor vehicle parts in September followed significant sales posted for August. Exports of motor vehicle engines and motor vehicle parts fell 2.7%. On a quarterly basis, total sales in Ontario edged down 0.1% in the third quarter of 2023, while they were up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis in September.
