Canadian industries operated at 76.5% of their production capacity in the third quarter of 2020, up from record low of 70.7% in the previous period but below market expectations of 77.5%. Increases in the manufacturing (+11.8% to 75.3%) and construction (+7.2% to 87.2%) sectors led capacity gains. After being forced to slow or suspend their activities in the second quarter, most Canadian industries saw gradual recovery of their activities after public health measures were eased. Nevertheless, the capacity utilization rate of most industries remained below pre-pandemic levels. Given the recently implemented public health measures, a slowdown in industrial capacity utilization may occur in the fourth quarter. source: Statistics Canada

Capacity Utilization in Canada averaged 82.76 percent from 1987 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 87.30 percent in the first quarter of 1988 and a record low of 70.70 percent in the second quarter of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - Canada Capacity Utilization - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Canada Capacity Utilization - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2021.

Capacity Utilization in Canada is expected to be 77.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Capacity Utilization in Canada to stand at 80.40 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Canada Capacity Utilization is projected to trend around 80.70 percent in 2021 and 83.50 percent in 2022, according to our econometric models.

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Canada Capacity Utilization

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
76.50 70.70 87.30 70.70 1987 - 2020 percent Quarterly
NSA


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2020-03-11 12:30 PM Q4 81.2% 81.5% 80.7% 81%
2020-06-12 12:30 PM Q1 79.8% 81.4% 80% 80%
2020-09-11 12:30 PM Q2 70.3% 79.8% 70.2% 70.5%
2020-12-11 01:30 PM Q3 76.5% 70.7% 77.5% 77%
2021-03-12 12:30 PM Q4 76.5%
2021-06-11 12:30 PM Q1
2021-09-10 12:30 PM Q2
2021-12-10 01:30 PM Q3
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
Canada Capacity Utilization Rate Below Forecasts
Canadian industries operated at 76.5% of their production capacity in the third quarter of 2020, up from a record low of 70.7% in the previous period but below market expectations of 77.5%. Increases in the manufacturing (+11.8% to 75.3%) and construction (+7.2% to 87.2%) sectors led capacity gains. After being forced to slow or suspend their activities in the second quarter, most Canadian industries saw gradual recovery of their activities after public health measures were eased. Nevertheless, the capacity utilization rate of most industries remained below pre-pandemic levels. Given the recently implemented public health measures, a slowdown in industrial capacity utilization may occur in the fourth quarter.
2020-12-11
Canada Q2 Capacity Utilization Lowest Since 1987
Canadian industries operated at 70.3 percent of their production capacity in the second quarter of 2020, down from 79.8 percent in the previous period but slightly above market expectations of 70.2 percent. This was the lowest rate since the first quarter of 1987, due to a slowdown in most sectors following coronavirus lockdown restrictions. The manufacturing sector led the decline (-17.1 pp to 63.3%, the lowest rate on record), as the 21 major manufacturing industries dropped, namely transportation equipment makers. Capacity utilization in the construction sector fell sharply, down 10.6 pp to 80.2%, the largest quarterly decrease observed since series began, on the back of a general decline in activities across all industry subsectors. Also, mining and quarrying capacity utilization went down 14.5 pp to 56.3%, the lowest level observed since Q3 2009; and in oil and gas extraction fell for a second straight quarter, to 74%.
2020-09-11
Canada Capacity Utilization Falls More than Expected
Canadian industries operated at 79.8 percent of their production capacity in the first quarter of 2020, down from an upwardly revised 81.4 percent in the previous period and below market expectations of 80 percent. This was the third consecutive quarterly decrease due to a slowdown in most sectors amid physical distancing measures implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The manufacturing sector led the decline (-4.1 pp to 74.4%, the lowest rate since Q3 2009), amid rail blockades in February and factories shutdowns in March due to the covid-19. Capacity utilization in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector was unchanged at 77.8%, while in the construction sector went down 0.2 pp to 90.5% due to reduced activity in engineering and other construction activities. In contrast, the forestry and logging sector posted a capacity utilization rate of 68.2%, its first increase in four quarters, partially due to resolved labour disputes in British Columbia.
2020-06-12
Canada Capacity Utilization Falls Less than Expected
Canadian industries operated at 81.2 percent of their production capacity in the last quarter of 2019, down from a downwardly revised 81.5 percent in the previous period but above market expectations of 80.7 percent. This was the fifth decrease in six quarters, mainly due to declines in mining and quarrying (-3.2pp to 68.2%), in particular, potash mining amid disruptions in the rail transportation of merchandise and by low international ore demand; and in the manufacturing sector (-1.4pp to 77.7%, its lowest since Q4 2010), of which chemicals (-7.9pp to 73.6%) and machinery (-4.6pp to 74.8%). Considering 2019 as a whole, Canadian industries operated at 81.7 percent of their production capacity, down from 83 percent in 2018.
2020-03-11

Canada Capacity Utilization
The rates of capacity utilization are measures of the intensity with which industries use their production capacity. Capacity utilization is the percentage of actual to potential output.