February 18, 2026
Statistics Canada announced that December manufacturing sales increased 0.6%
Statistics Canada announced that, following two consecutive monthly declines, manufacturing sales increased 0.6% to $71.0 billion in December, with gains in 12 of the 21 subsectors. Higher sales of motor vehicles (+12.0%) and food products (+2.0%) contributed the most to the increase. These gains were partially offset by a 5.1% decline in petroleum and coal product sales. Compared to December 2024, total manufacturing sales were down 1.1%.
Statistics Canada announced that, after two consecutive monthly declines, sales in the motor vehicle industry group rebounded in December, rising 12.0% to $4.3 billion. The gain was entirely driven by increased production at a major auto assembly plant in Ontario, which had been operating partially in October and November due to semiconductor chip shortages.
Sales rose in six provinces, with Ontario and British Columbia posting the largest increases.
In Ontario, sales increased 1.5% to $30.8 billion in December, driven by higher sales of motor vehicles (+10.7%), food (+2.5%), and primary metals (+5.4%). The increase in motor vehicle sales in December followed a 14.8% decline in November. Meanwhile, sales of non-ferrous metal (except aluminum) were the key driver in the primary metal subsector. Year over year, total sales in Ontario were up 0.1% in December, while they decreased 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Sales in British Columbia rose 3.8% to $5.5 billion in December, on higher sales in 15 of the 21 subsectors and led by machinery. Machinery manufacturing sales rose 27.7% to $451 million in December, mainly due to higher sales in the other general-purpose machinery industry group. On a year-over-year basis, total sales in British Columbia were up 2.0% in December, while they increased 0.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025.