Canadian manufacturers recorded robust rises in output, new orders and
employment during July, thereby signalling another marked improvement in
overall business conditions across the sector. However, the latest
survey also signalled a steep and accelerated rise in prices charged by
manufacturing firms, which was widely linked to the impact of U.S. trade
tariffs on steel and aluminium. At the same time, strong demand for raw
materials and transportation bottlenecks led to a survey-record
lengthening of delivery times from suppliers.
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IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Output Index (Sources: IHS Markit, StatCan.)
At 56.9 in July, the seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Canada
Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI™)
fell only slightly from June’s survey-record high of 57.1 and remained
indicative of a strong improvement in overall business conditions. The
headline index was supported by the fastest rise in production volumes
since March 2017, which partially offset softer rates of new business
growth and job creation compared to the previous month.
Strong output growth was linked to robust order books and ongoing
efforts to boost operating capacity across the manufacturing sector.
Higher levels of production have been recorded in each month since
November 2016.
July data pointed to a robust increase in new work received by
manufacturing firms, with the rate of expansion only slightly softer
than June’s four-and-a-half year peak. The slowdown partly reflected a
weaker contribution from export order growth, which was the least marked
since March. Survey respondents noted that rising transport costs and,
in some cases, output price increases related to trade tariffs had acted
as a headwind to export sales growth.
Manufacturers are upbeat about the outlook for production levels at
their plants in the next 12 months. The degree of positive sentiment
eased fractionally since June, but remained broadly in line with the
average so far in 2018. Resilient business confidence and another solid
rise in backlogs of work underpinned sustained employment growth in July.
Intense supply chain pressures continued in July, as highlighted by the
greatest lengthening of lead-times from vendors since the survey began
in October 2010. Manufacturers again sought to compensate for worsening
supplier performance by boosting their stocks of inputs.
Input cost pressures eased only slightly from the seven-year peak seen
in June. Survey respondents mainly cited the inflationary impact of
trade tariffs for metal products, alongside rising fuel prices.
Surcharges for raw materials were passed on to clients in July, with
factory price inflation accelerating to a survey-record high.
Regional highlights:
Comment:
Christian Buhagiar, President and CEO, SCMA
“The manufacturing sector continued to perform strongly during July,
with growth proving resilient against a backdrop of intense supply chain
pressures and escalating concerns about global trade.
“Output volumes expanded at the fastest pace for almost a
year-and-a-half, supported by strong order books and successful efforts
to rebuild production capacity in response to rising client demand.
“While domestic sales remained the main growth impetus in July, the
latest survey indicated another solid upturn in new export orders.
“Delivery times for raw materials lengthened to the greatest extent
for over seven-and-a-half years, reflecting shortages of freight
capacity and forward purchasing ahead of U.S. trade tariffs.
“Surcharges on steel and aluminum products placed upward pressure on
manufacturing costs, alongside the sharpest rise in prices at the
factory gate since the survey began in 2010.”
Note to Editors:
The IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI™ Report is based on data
compiled from monthly replies to questionnaires sent to purchasing
executives in over 400 industrial companies. The panel is stratified by
company workforce size and by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
group, based on industry contribution to Canada GDP.
Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month
compared to the previous month based on data collected mid-month. For
each of the indicators the ‘Report’ shows the percentage reporting each
response, the net difference between the number of higher/better
responses and lower/worse responses, and the ‘diffusion’ index. This
index is the sum of the positive responses plus a half of those
responding ‘the same’.
Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and are
convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of change.
An index reading above 50 indicates an overall increase in that
variable, below 50 an overall decrease. The IHS Markit Canada
Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI™) is a
composite index based on five of the individual indexes with the
following weights: New Orders – 0.3, Output – 0.25, Employment – 0.2,
Suppliers’ Delivery Times – 0.15, Stock of Items Purchased – 0.1, with
the Delivery Times Index inverted so that it moves in a comparable
direction.
The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey methodology has developed an
outstanding reputation for providing the most up-to-date possible
indication of what is really happening in the private sector economy by
tracking variables such as sales, employment, inventories and prices.
The indices are widely used by businesses, governments and economic
analysts in financial institutions to help better understand business
conditions and guide corporate and investment strategy. In particular,
central banks in many countries (including the European Central Bank)
use the data to help make interest rate decisions. PMI surveys are the
first indicators of economic conditions published each month and are
therefore available well ahead of comparable data produced by government
bodies.
IHS Markit does not revise underlying survey data after first
publication, but seasonal adjustment factors may be revised from time to
time as appropriate which will affect the seasonally adjusted data
series. Historical data relating to the underlying (unadjusted) numbers,
first published seasonally adjusted series and subsequently revised data
are available to subscribers from IHS Markit. Please contact economics@ihsmarkit.com.
About Supply Chain Management Association
The Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA) is Canada’s largest
association for supply chain management professionals. We represent
7,500 members as well as the wider profession working in roles that
cover sourcing, procurement, logistics, inventory, and contract
management. SCMA sets the standards for excellence and ethics, and is
the principal source of professional development and accreditation in
supply chain management in Canada. www.scma.com.
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About PMI
Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI™) surveys are now available
for over 40 countries and also for key regions including the eurozone.
They are the most closely-watched business surveys in the world,
favoured by central banks, financial markets and business decision
makers for their ability to provide up-to-date, accurate and often
unique monthly indicators of economic trends. To learn more go to www.ihsmarkit.com/product/pmi.
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Manufacturing PMI™ provided herein are owned by or licensed to IHS
Markit. Any unauthorised use, including but not limited to copying,
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thereon. In no event shall IHS Markit be liable for any special,
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