Canada Manufacturing Sector Growth Sustained in May

The S&P Global Canada Manufacturing PMI remained in growth territory for a second straight month at 52.9 in May 2026, down slightly from 53.3 in April but still above its long-run average. The sector was supported by further increases in output and new orders, as firms reported stronger demand and success in attracting new customers. Employment also continued to rise, with some manufacturers citing pressure on existing capacity. However, inflationary pressures intensified, with both input and output price measures climbing to near four-year highs. At the same time, supplier delivery times deteriorated sharply as the conflict in the Middle East disrupted supply chains. Despite ongoing growth, business confidence remained subdued amid concerns about costs and the broader economic outlook.

The S&P Global Canada Manufacturing PMI rose to 53.3 in April 2026 from 50.0 in March, marking the strongest improvement in business conditions since June 2022. Production growth reached its highest level since May 2022, while new orders expanded at the fastest pace in over four years, fueled by a sharp increase in new export orders, the strongest since early 2022. This surge was largely driven by client stockpiling due to concerns over product availability, supply chain disruptions, and price pressures linked to the Middle East conflict. Input buying also rose at the steepest rate since June 2022, while employment levels saw a slight increase and vendor delivery times lengthened at the greatest rate since March 2025. On the price front, input costs rose at the fastest pace in over three-and-a-half years, with fuel and freight transportation costs contributing to the upward pressure. Finally, business optimism improved to a 16-month high.

The S&P Global Canada Manufacturing PMI fell to 50.0 in March 2026 from 51.0 in the previous month signalling a stagnation of manufacturing sector performance and ending a two-month period of improvement. Output declined for the first time in 2026 as new order volumes returned to contraction with high prices and ongoing headwinds from US tariffs continuing to weigh on export sales. Consequently subdued trends in orders led to a marginal net fall in staffing levels for the first time in three months as firms adjusted operational capacity and showed a reluctance to replace leavers. Meanwhile input price inflation accelerated to its highest level since last August driven by rising fuel and supplier charges from the war in the Middle East though output charge inflation softened to a three-month low. Looking forward uncertainty caused by the conflict and persistent tariff concerns saw confidence in future output fall to a three-month low.