Higher turnover manufacturing industry

In March 2005 turnover of the Dutch manufacturing industry was again higher than one year previously. Compared to March last year turnover was 3 percent up. Higher selling prices account for the increase in turnover. According to provisional figures released by Statistics Netherlands, manufacturing output in the period February-March 2005 was 1.9 percent down on the period December 2004-January 2005. 

Increase in sales due to higher prices

The turnover increase by 3 percent is the result of higher selling prices, which rose by more than 6 percent. March 2005 had one working day less than March 2004. Statistics Netherlands estimates the negative effect on turnover at 3 percent, but this effect was easily offset by the increase in selling prices.

Just like in previous months, the turnover increase of March 2005 was mainly realised on the foreign market. Turnover of Dutch manufacturing industry on the foreign market was 5 percent higher than in March 2004. The increase in turnover on the domestic market was no more than 1 percent.

Manufacturing output down

In the period February-March 2005 manufacturing output, corrected for seasonal effects, was 1.9 percent down on the period December 2004-January 2005. This marked the end of a brief period of output growth.

The output of consumer goods fell noticeably in the period February-March 2005 compared to the previous period. The production of investment goods, raw materials and semi-fabricated goods was fairly stable compared to the period December 2004-January 2005.

Partly because of the decrease in February-March, the output level of manufacturing industry in March 2005, adjusted for working day patterns, was 2.9 percent below the level of one year previously.

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