Monthly Survey of Manufacturing, February 2023

Released: 2023-04-14

Canadian manufacturing sales declined 3.6% to $71.5 billion in February, following a 4.5% increase in January. The decreases were observed in 12 of 21 industries, led by the petroleum and coal product (-14.9%), motor vehicle (-12.3%) and primary metal (-4.2%) industries. Conversely, the machinery (+3.0%) and electrical equipment, appliance and component (+6.0%) industries posted the largest increases. Year over year, total sales were up 3.8% in February.

The monthly decline resulted from lower volumes and prices as sales in real terms decreased 2.4% in February and the Industrial Product Price Index edged down 0.8%.

Chart 1 
Manufacturing sales

Petroleum and coal products drive the decline

Following a strong growth in January, sales of petroleum and coal products fell 14.9% to $8.8 billion in February, marking the third-largest monthly decline in dollar terms on record. Sales volumes were down 8.3%. Prices (-6.4%) and exports (-12.8%) of refined petroleum energy products (including liquid biofuels) fell considerably month over month. Maintenance turnaround as well as lower demand for heating fuel likely due to mild weather in most of Europe and the United States could be partly responsible for the monthly declines. Year over year, sales edged down 0.8% in February.

After three consecutive monthly increases, sales of motor vehicles were down 12.3% to $4.2 billion in February, driven by reduced production associated with insufficient supply of chips and materials. Fewer calendar days in February compared with January also had a role in the decrease. Sales of motor vehicle parts edged up 0.3% in February, the slowest monthly growth rate in five months. Exports of motor vehicles and parts fell 4.4%. Despite the monthly decrease, sales of motor vehicles were up 9.5% in February compared with the same month last year.

Sales of primary metals declined 4.2% to $5.6 billion in February, following a 4.4% increase in January, with decreases spanning all five primary metal industries. The non-ferrous metal (except aluminum) production and processing industry (-14.7%) led the decline, coinciding with lower prices of primary non-ferrous metal products (-2.4%) in February. Other notable contributors to the monthly decline were related to ferrous metal industries such as the steel product manufacturing from purchased steel (-12.2%) and iron steel mills and ferro-alloy manufacturing (-6.1%) industries. While prices for primary ferrous metal products increased (+1.7%), exports of most unwrought metal products were down in February. Sales in volume terms declined 4.7% month over month, while on a yearly basis, sales in current dollars edged down 1.0% in February.

Machinery industry increases the most

Sales in the machinery industry rose 3.0% to a record-high $4.6 billion in February, the fourth consecutive monthly increase. The gain was broad-based, with elevated sales in five of seven manufacturing industries, led by the industrial machinery manufacturing industry (+18.2%). Year over year, sales increased 20.0% in February.

Sales in the electrical equipment, appliance and component industry increased 6.0% to $1.3 billion in February, mostly attributable to higher sales in the electrical equipment industry. Exports of electrical components rose 1.9% in February.

Sales down in nine provinces, led by Alberta

Manufacturing sales decreased in nine provinces in February, primarily driven by lower sales in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Prince Edward Island was the only province where sales were unchanged.

In Alberta, sales declined 9.6% to $8.8 billion in February, after a prominent growth in January. The petroleum and coal product industry (-27.3%) and to a lesser extent, the chemical industry (-8.3%) drove the sales down, whereas the machinery (+12.5%) and fabricated metal (+11.6%) industries led the increase. Despite a monthly decrease, total sales were up 2.5% in February on a yearly basis.

In Ontario, sales were down 2.6% to $31.8 billion in February, mainly on lower sales of motor vehicles (-12.4%), petroleum and coal products (-4.2%) and primary metals (-4.7%). Partially offsetting the decline was higher sales in the electrical equipment, appliance and component industry (+14.3%). Compared with the same month in 2022, total sales increased 7.7% in February.

Sales in Quebec decreased 1.6% to $17.7 billion in February, as lower sales in the transportation (-8.9%) and petroleum and coal product industries were partially offset by higher sales in the chemical (+12.8%) and machinery (+8.4%) industries. On a yearly basis, total sales were up 1.3% in February.

In Prince Edward Island, sales held steady at $274.0 million in February, as increases in the durable goods industries (+10.5%) were offset by decreases in the non-durable goods industries (-4.3%).

Edmonton sales decrease the most

Manufacturing sales fell in 10 of 15 selected census metropolitan areas in February, led by Edmonton and followed by Québec. Meanwhile, sales in Toronto grew the most.

In Edmonton, sales recorded the largest monthly decrease, down 15.1% to $4.1 billion in February, almost entirely driven by lower sales of petroleum and coal products (-26.1%). Despite a monthly decline, total sales were up 1.6% in February compared with the same month of last year.

Sales in Québec were down for the third consecutive month, decreasing 10.8% to $1.9 billion in February, on lower sales of petroleum and coal products. Partly offsetting the drop were higher sales in the beverage and tobacco product industry.

In Toronto, sales increased for the second consecutive month, rising 1.1% to $12.9 billion in February, the highest on record. The monthly gain was primarily on higher sales in the motor vehicle industry (+4.9%), whereas the motor vehicle parts industry (-6.6%) recorded the largest decrease. Year over year, total sales rose 12.4% in February.

Levels of inventory increase to new high

Total inventory levels rose 0.9% to $122.3 billion in February, marking a new record high, with increases in finished products (+1.7%) and goods in process (+1.7%) and little change in raw materials (-0.1%). The petroleum and coal product (+8.8%), aerospace product and parts (+5.4%) and chemical (+2.3%) industries posted the largest gains, while the fabricated metal (-2.8%), wood product (-3.0%) and primary metal (-0.9%) industries posted the largest declines.

The monthly growth of total inventories resulted from higher volumes as total inventory level in real terms grew 1.8% in February, while the Raw Materials Price Index declined 0.4%.

Chart 2 
Inventory levels rise

The inventory-to-sales ratio increased from 1.63 in January to 1.71 in February. This ratio measures the time, in months, that would be required to exhaust inventories if sales were to remain at their current level.

Chart 3 
The inventory-to-sales ratio increases

Unfilled orders rise

The total value of unfilled orders rose 0.6% to $109.1 billion in February, mainly on higher unfilled orders in the aerospace product and parts, other transportation equipment and railroad rolling stock industries, while the ship and boat building and plastics and rubber products manufacturing industries posted the largest declines. The total value of unfilled orders was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis in February.

Chart 4 
Unfilled orders increase

The total value of new orders decreased 2.7% to $72.2 billion in February, with substantial declines in the new orders of petroleum and coal products (-15.5%) and motor vehicles (-15.0%) industries. Meanwhile, the aerospace products and part industry recorded the largest increase.

Capacity utilization rate decreases

The capacity utilization rate (not seasonally adjusted) for the manufacturing sector decreased from 78.9% in January to 77.0% in February, with lower capacity utilization rates in 14 of 21 industries. Notable decreases were in the petroleum and coal product (-5.9 percentage points), transportation equipment (-2.5 percentage points) and primary metal (-3.9 percentage points) industries. The decreases were partially offset by a higher capacity utilization rate in the machinery industry (+1.7 percentage points).

Chart 5 
The capacity utilization rate decreases

Sustainable development goals

On January 1, 2016, the world officially began implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—the United Nations' transformative plan of action that addresses urgent global challenges over the following 15 years. The plan is based on 17 specific sustainable development goals.

The Monthly Survey of Manufacturing is an example of how Statistics Canada supports the reporting on the global sustainable development goals. This release will be used to help measure the following goal:

Contact information

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