Statistics Canada announced that total manufacturing sales fell 1.0% to $69.4 billion in August, on lower sales in 12 of the 21 subsectors, led by the transportation equipment (-5.7%) and food (-1.9%) subsectors.

Meanwhile primary metal sales increased the most, up 3.6% to $5.8 billion in August. On a year-to-date basis, total manufacturing sales were down 1.0% in the first eight months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.

The Federal Agency notes that sales decreased in six provinces in August, led by Quebec and Ontario. Manitoba posted the largest gain.

Sales in Quebec fell 1.6% to $18.1 billion in August on lower sales in 15 of the 21 subsectors, led by the transportation equipment (-8.2%) and fabricated metal (-3.2%) subsectors. Within the transportation equipment subsector, lower production of aerospace products and parts (-10.2%) contributed the most to the decline. The declines in the 15 subsectors were partially offset by a 2.9% increase in sales of primary metals, driven mainly by higher sales in the alumina and aluminum production and processing industry group.

In Ontario, sales decreased 0.8% to $30.3 billion in August, almost entirely on reduced sales in the transportation equipment subsector (-5.3%) which includes the motor vehicle parts (-5.5%), aerospace product and parts (-17.0%), and motor vehicle (-2.6%) industry groups. Excluding the transportation equipment subsector, total sales were up 0.7% in August. Chemical product sales in Ontario (+11.4%) rose the most during the same period.

 

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