Food and motor vehicle manufacturers led the way as manufacturing sales advanced 1.2% to $44.5 billion in March.
Statistics Canada reports constant-dollar manufacturing sales increased 1.7%, their seventh straight monthly advance.
Sales gains were reported in 12 of 21 industries, representing two-thirds of total sales.
Food manufacturers reported the greatest increase in the value of sales, up 3.5% over February.
The agency says most of the remaining sales increases for March were attributable to durable-goods industries.
Motor vehicle manufacturers reported a 3.6% increase in March, their sixth advance in seven months.
However, the gain in vehicle manufacturing was largely offset by a 9.6% decrease in aerospace products and parts production.
Other durable good sales increases included non-metallic mineral products (up 7.7%) and wood product manufacturing (4.9%).
Provincial gains were reported across the country in March, ranging from increases of 0.1% in Quebec to 45% in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Inventory levels fell 1.1% in March compared with February.
The backlog of unfilled orders declined for the first time in four months, down 0.4% to $53 billion.
New orders decreased 0.7% in March to $44.3 billion. New orders fell in three key industries: computers and electronics, transportation equipment, and machinery.
