OTTAWA, Ont. — Manufacturers reduced their output in October (-0.3%) for a second consecutive month, Statistics Canada reported today.

“Foreign demand for fabricated products was reduced in the wake of a strengthening dollar that gained 3.3% during the month vis–vis the US currency, reaching its highest level in 12 years. The weakness was widespread as only 4 of the 21 major manufacturing groups advanced in October,” Statistics Canada noted in its monthly report on the nation’s economic growth.

Manufacturing of non-durable goods dropped 0.6% while output of durable products edged down 0.1%.

The output of all types of primary metal products was down in October: iron and steel products (-2.0%), aluminum products (-1.2%), non-ferrous metal products (-2.1%) and foundries (-2.9%). The fabrication of many types of machinery decreased, including those used for metalwork (-3.3%), for agriculture, construction and mining (-0.5%) as well as general purpose machinery (-1.8%).

The production of chemical products was down 0.9% largely because of lower output of pharmaceuticals and medicine (-2.1%) and of resin and synthetic rubber (-2.2%). Nevertheless, the output of chemical products remained 9% higher than its year-ago level. Paper manufacturing excluding newsprint dropped 4.6% while printing activity was down 1.2%. The output of refineries and other petroleum and coal product manufacturers decreased 1.7%.

Strength in the fabrication of wood products (+1.7%) and of transportation equipment (+0.4%) partly alleviated the general downturn in manufacturing. Growth was widespread across wood products manufacturing. Sawmills increased their output 1.1%, production of veneer, plywood and other structural wood products was up 2.6%, while the fabrication of other wood products, such as millwork and wood containers, increased 2.4%. Motor vehicle production was up 1.3%, helped by a surge in the output of heavy-duty trucks. The output of furniture and related products was up 1.4%. Non-metallic mineral production increased 1.2%, led by increased output of ready-mix concrete (+2.5%) due to robust housing starts in some areas.

Construction activity was reduced by 0.6% in October. Residential construction retreated 0.5% on account of fewer housing starts. Large decreases in housing starts were observed in British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces. Ontario also saw a reduction in housing starts. There were increases however in Quebec and the Prairies.

Non-residential construction decreased a further 1.2% for a seventh consecutive month in October. All types of construction declined, especially institutional and industrial. Non-residential building permits were virtually unchanged in value in October, as a strong gain in building permits for industrial structures was completely offset by declines for commercial and institutional structures. This growth reflected strong investment intentions in the manufacturing sector. Engineering and repair construction activity pulled back 0.3%.

Support activities for mining, oil and gas extraction, mostly oil and gas exploration, jumped 12% in October after bad September weather in the Prairies delayed the increased interest brought about by the upsurge in the price of crude oil on international markets. Extraction of oil and natural gas however decreased 1.3% because of lower than usual oil production on the East coast.

Overall, production in the mining, oil and gas sector was up 0.2% as it also benefited from the end of a strike in iron mines that started in July 2004. The output of iron mines was still 21% below the peak reached in February. Diamond (-6.8%) and potash (-3.9%) production was also down.