Manufacturing sales increased in all provinces in March, led by Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

In Ontario, sales rose 2.4 per cent to $30.1 billion in March, in Alberta sales rose 4.1 per cent to $8.8 billion in March and in Saskatchewan sales rose 11.1 per cent to $2.2 billion in March.  The increase in Saskatchewan was mainly based on higher sales of chemicals – driven by record high sales of pesticide and fertilizers – as well as a gain in petroleum and coal product, and primary metals industries.

Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales nationally in the country rose 2.5 per cent to $70.2 billion in March which makes it the sixth consecutive monthly increase.

Sales rose in 16 of 21 industries, led by the petroleum and coal which were up 9.1 per cent. Meanwhile, recording a drop of 4.9 per cent, the machinery industry posted the largest decline. Petroleum sales increased not because of volume. In fact volumes sold declined but the increase was based entirely on higher prices according to Statscan.

Sales of primary metals reached a new record high, rising 6.5 per cent to $5.8 billion in March. Following a 2.1 per cent decline in February, paper product sales increased 9.3 per cent to $2.7 billion in March on higher prices and volume sold. Sales also increased in the chemical (+3.3%), motor vehicle (+4.7%) and motor vehicle parts (+6.4%) industries in March.