Statistics Canada says total manufacturing sales rose to their highest level since September 2023 as they climbed 0.2% to $72.9 billion in February.
The agency says it was the fifth consecutive monthly gain as sales rose in 11 of the 21 subsectors it tracks.
Sales of primary metals rose 8.3% to a record $6.9 billion in February, helped by higher demand and prices for many non-ferrous metals, including alumina and aluminum products.
Chemical product sales gained 6.7% to total $5.3 billion in February.
Sales in the petroleum and coal product subsector fell 5.2% to $8.1 billion due to lower demand and, to a lesser extent, softer prices.
On a constant dollar basis, overall manufacturing sales were unchanged in February.