Canadian manufacturing sales increased 0.7 percent to $48.6 billion in May, the second gain in five months, according to Statistics Canada.

Sales were up in 11 of 21 industries, representing about 57 percent of the manufacturing sector. Sales of durable goods were up 1.3 percent while non-durable goods sales edged up 0.2 percent.

Constant dollar sales increased 0.7 percent as volumes rose.

By Sector
The chemical industry posted the largest sales gain in dollar terms. Sales in the industry were up $195 million to $4 billion, the 8th increase in 12 months. The gain in May mainly reflected a larger than usual increase in fertilizer sales. Wetter and colder weather this year delayed spring planting. Hence, the annual ramp-up in fertilizer production occurred later this year than in previous years.

Sales of primary metals rose 4 percent in May to $3.5 billion, partially rebounding from a 9.1 percent drop in April. In the machinery and fabricated metal products industries, sales increased 3.8 percent and 3.4 percent respectively. In all three industries, higher volumes of products sold were responsible for the gains.

A 4.8 percent decline in sales to $2.1 billion in the wood product industry offset some of the sales increases. The decrease followed seven months of advances. Notwithstanding the decline, wood product sales were 26.5 percent higher compared with May 2012.

Sales in the food industry were down 1.3 percent to $7.3 billion in May, the lowest level since November 2012.

By Province
Sales were up in six provinces, led by Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

In Ontario, sales rose 1.9 percent to $22.7 billion, reaching their highest level since November 2012. The gain mainly reflected increases in the petroleum and coal product (8.7 percent), motor vehicle assembly (2 percent), and chemical (3.9 percent) industries.

Sales in Alberta advanced 2.1 percent to $6.2 billion. The increase was caused by higher sales in the petroleum and coal product (5.8 percent) and chemical (7.5 percent) industries.

Saskatchewan manufacturers reported a 5.8 percent rise in sales. The gain mainly reflected increases in the non-durable goods industries.

In Quebec, sales fell 2.8 percent to $10.7 billion, the 10th decline in 12 months. This decrease stemmed from lower sales in the petroleum and coal product industry. In May, Quebec manufacturing sales were at their lowest level since September 2009.

Inventories
Inventories edged down 0.2 percent to $69.0 billion, the first decline after four months of gains. In the primary metal industry, inventories were down 3.3 percent to $7.4 billion. Lower inventories of paper (-2.3 percent) and non-metallic mineral products (-3.8 percent) also contributed to the decline in total inventories.

However, a 2.5 percent advance in goods-in-process inventories in the aerospace product and parts industry partly offset the declines. In addition, total inventories were up in the chemical (+1.3 percent) and computer and electronic product (1.8 percent) industries.

The inventory-to-sales ratio decreased slightly to 1.42 in May from 1.43 in April. The values for the ratio in April and May were the highest since the autumn of 2009.

Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders increased 0.6 percent to $71.2 billion, as a result of gains in the transportation equipment industry. Unfilled orders were also up in the primary metal industry.

The increase in unfilled orders for transportation equipment reflected a 1.2 percent advance in the aerospace product and parts industry. Aerospace unfilled orders reached $39.0 billion in May, the highest level ever recorded for the industry. Unfilled orders also rose in the ship and boat building industry.

In the primary metal industry, unfilled orders rose 8.3 percent to $1.3 billion. The gain was the largest since November 2011.

A portion of the gains in total unfilled orders was offset by a 1.9 percent decline in the machinery industry.

New orders increased 1.8 percent to $49 billion in May. The increase reflected gains in the transportation equipment, primary metal, fabricated metal product and chemical industries.