Manufacturing sales increased 1.9 per cent to $47.5-billion in March after a 1.8 per cent decline in February.
The transportation equipment industry was up 6.3 per cent, accounting for just over half of the gain.
Sales also rose in the machinery and paper industries.
Higher sales were reported in 15 of 21 industries, representing 80 per cent of total manufacturing.
Constant-dollar manufacturing sales rose 1.9 per cent in March.
Manufacturing sales in the first quarter increased four per cent compared with the last three months of 2010.
Sales for the first quarter ($141.6-billion) were also the highest since the third quarter of 2008 ($154.9-billion), before the economic downturn began.
Sales have advanced for seven consecutive quarters.
In March, nine provinces posted higher sales than in February, led by Quebec and Alberta.