Quebec, on the strength of its aerospace manufacturing base, saw its manufacturing sales increase in September while most provinces experienced declines. PHOTO courtesy Airbus.
Manufacturing sales declined in 8 of 10 provinces in September, led by Ontario. Meanwhile, sales in Quebec increased the most.
In Ontario, sales declined 1.2% to $30.6 billion in September, the second consecutive decline. A decrease in sales of motor vehicles (-6.2%) was the main contributor to the decline as shutdowns and a lack of raw materials at some major auto plants impacted sales, Statistics Canada reports.
The decrease was partially offset by an increase in the chemical manufacturing industry (+4.1%). After four consecutive quarterly gains, sales in Ontario declined 0.4% to $92.5 billion in the third quarter of 2022. Despite the decrease, total sales were up 20.9% compared with September 2021.
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Sales in Quebec increased 4.1% to $17.5 billion in September, after two consecutive monthly declines. Increases in the primary metal (+13.3%), aerospace product and parts (+14.9%) and machinery (+14.2%) industries contributed the most to the increase.
Toronto sales decrease the most
Manufacturing sales fell in 7 of 15 selected census metropolitan areas in September, led by Toronto and Edmonton, while sales in Montréal increased the most.
After a 1.8% increase in August, sales in Toronto decreased 3.1% to $11.7 billion in September. Sales of motor vehicles declined 32.0% to $945 million, the lowest level since April 2021 and the main contributor to the decrease in manufacturing sales in Toronto.
Sales in Edmonton decreased 2.4% to $4.4 billion in September 2022, mainly on lower sales of petroleum and coal (-2.2%), primary metal (-30.4%) and food (-5.7%). Despite the decline, sales were up 50.9% on a yearly basis.
After two consecutive monthly declines, sales in Montréal increased 2.3% to $7.9 billion in September, the fourth highest level on record. Sales in the aerospace product (+15.0%), machinery (+19.7%) and primary metal (+2.9%) industries were the main contributors to the increase.
