Statistics Canada released manufacturing shipments on Tuesday. Canadian manufacturing shipments dropped 1.7% in January, missing forecasts of a 1.1% decrease, after a 1.6% increase in December.
December's figure was revised down from a 1.7% rise.
The decline was driven by a drop in sales of petroleum and coal products. Sales of petroleum and coal products plunged 11.9% in January. It was the biggest one-month drop since 2008.
Sales of motor vehicles decreased 2.0%, while sales of machinery dropped 8.9% in January.
Food sales declined 1.7% in January.
Sales declined in 14 of 21 categories.