(Kitco News) - According to Statistics Canada (StatCan), the domestic mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector grew 1.4% in March as all subsectors were up.
StatCan reported that Canada's mining and quarrying (except oil and gas) increased 0.9% in March, as growth in metal ore mining more than offset declines in the other two subsectors.
Metal ore mining increased 4.4% in March, rising for the second month in a row, as all types of metal ore mining grew, led by gold and silver ore mining along with iron ore mining.
However, StatCan said that non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying was down 1.7%, with potash mining contributing the most to the decline.
According to the report, coal mining in Canada contracted 5.6% in March following three months of strong growth.
"The elevated coal production in the previous three months was an effort by producers to make up for deliveries affected by flooding in British Columbia in late 2021," StatCan noted.
StatCan added that the domestic oil and gas extraction expanded 1.7% in March, rising for the second month in a row after three months of decline, as oil sands extraction grew 2.3% in March, following a 2.0% growth in February, led by continued increases in crude bitumen and synthetic crude production in Alberta.
Similarly, oil and gas extraction (except oil sands) rose 0.9% as growth in crude petroleum extraction more than offset lower natural gas extraction.
StatCan also noted that support activities for mining, and oil and gas extraction increased 0.8% in March on account of an increase in drilling and rigging services.
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