January was a rebound month for Saskatchewan’s manufacturing sector.
We had been experiencing some retraction in this segment of the economy during the latter half of 2024 but these firms started 2025 with a flourish. Total revenues for all manufacturers were up 13-percent for the month when compared to December’s activity.
Although it leaves us in negative territory on a year-over-year basis, another month like this will no doubt get us back in the black after one of the strongest performances in the country in January.
Another market segment that parallels manufacturing is the wholesale arena. StatsCan puts out numbers for both on the same day as they tend to move in tandem as both also have a strong correlation to exports.
Saskatchewan’s wholesalers also had a strong January – up more than 3-percent which is double the national growth rate.
The reason for these improvements may well lie in the imposition of tariffs. Buyers were anxious to stock their shelves with parts before the tariffs came into effect and, as a result, manufacturers were pushing more product out the door to meet that demand.
