Electronic Products & Technology

Manufacturing sales fell 2.1% in April

By The Canadian Press, Ottawa   

Electronics Semiconductors Supply Chain automotive Manufacturing semiconductor

Semiconductor chip shortage hurt the auto industry this spring

Canadian manufacturing sales fell 2.1 per cent to $57.1 billion in April as the auto industry was hurt by a continued shortage of semiconductor chips that prompted companies to halt or slow production.

Statistics Canada said Monday transportation equipment sales fell 23.6 per cent to $6.4 billion as motor vehicle sales fell 36.5 per cent to $2.3 billion in April, the largest month-over-month decrease since April 2020. Sales in the motor vehicle parts industry fell 19.0 per cent to $1.9 billion.

Source: Getty Images

A global shortage of computer chips, which are used in a wide range of critical components, has caused auto companies to slow production around the world. TD Bank economist Omar Abdelrahman said that although some plants restarted production in June, much uncertainty remains for the auto industry.

“A full recovery in production may be drawn out over the next few quarters as the impacts of these global shortages and supply chain disruptions linger,” he wrote in a report.

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Reopening economies should help

However, Abdelrahman said the outlook for manufacturing sales outside of the auto industry is not all that bad.

“The reopening of provincial economies and strength in Canada’s largest export market (the U.S.) should provide a lift to demand,” he wrote.

Manufacturing sales excluding the transportation equipment industry rose 1.5 per cent in April. Machinery sales rose 14.6 per cent to a record $3.7 billion in April, while wood product sales also rose 6.5 per cent to a record $4.9 billion for the month.

 

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