Canada’s manufacturing sales increased by 0.3pc to C$54.1mn ($42mn) in October compared to the prior month while the sales fell 5.2pc on an annual basis, according to Statistics Canada (StatCan). Motor vehicle sales was up by 1.9pc to C$4.6bn in October from the previous month but was down 11.7pc from the same period in 2019.
Sales of primary metal increased by 2pc, transportation equipment sales grew by 24.4pc while the sales of aerospace products and parts declined 5.9pc to C$1.6bn in October from September, StatCan reported. Sales of motor vehicle parts and fabricated metal products also declined by 2.3pc and 1.7pc respectively from the previous month.
Canada’s inventory levels decreased by 0.4pc to C$86.5mn in October from the previous month under which inventories in transportation equipment fell by 2.1pc. The nation’s order backlog reduced by 2.3pc to C$90bn mainly due to drop in aerospace products and parts by 3.2pc while its new orders declined by 3.9pc to C$52bn in October from the previous month.
Canadian capacity utilization in the manufacturing sector was down to 77.8pc in October from 78.4pc in September with capacity utilization in the primary metal industry increasing by 1.1pc.
($1 = C$1.27)