Manufacturing sales up in February as auto production ramped up after shutdowns

Honda employees work along the vehicle assembly line before an event announcing plans for a Honda electric vehicle battery plant in Alliston, Ont., on Thursday, April 25, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

OTTAWA — Strength in the auto sector helped boost both manufacturing and wholesale sales in February as several auto assembly plants ramped up operations following planned maintenance and retooling shutdowns.

Statistics Canada said Wednesday manufacturing sales rose 3.6 per cent to $71.2 billion in February following a drop of 3.1 per cent in January.

The reading came as sales rose in 12 of the 21 subsectors, led by an 18.8 per cent gain in transportation equipment as auto production increased.

Sales in the machinery subsector also climbed higher as they increased 7.7 per cent in February, while sales of primary metals hit a new record high as they gained 4.9 per cent to $6.5 billion.

Meanwhile, sales of chemical products fell 3.2 per cent to $5 billion in February.

In constant dollars, total manufacturing sales rose 3.4 per cent in February.

In a separate report, Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, climbed two per cent higher to total $86.8 billion in February.

Wholesale sales increased in five of the seven subsectors, with the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector up 6.1 per cent.

The food, beverage and tobacco subsector rose 2.9 per cent, while personal and household goods gained 2.5 per cent in February.

The miscellaneous subsector edged down 0.6 per cent.

In volume terms, wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 1.1 per cent in February.

Statistics Canada has started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade, but is excluding the data from its monthly analysis until there is enough historical data for comparison.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2026.