Manufacturing output slightly up

The average daily output of the Dutch manufacturing industry was almost 2 percent higher in January than twelve months previously. Output growth was slightly higher than in December.

Output did not improve across all branches in January relative to the same month in 2007.The most substantial increase (over 5 percent) was in the wood and building materials. Food, drinks and tobacco, petroleum and chemical products and textiles realised an output growth of 3 to 4 percent. Output of the metal industry increased marginally compared to one year previously. In paper and publishing industry, output was more than 2 percent down on January 2007.

For a more reliable picture of short-term production developments, it is best to look at the production figures after correction for seasonal effects. As monthly figures are often somewhat erratic, the two-month average compared with the previous two-month average is preferred. After correction for working days and seasonal effects, manufacturing production was over 2 percent higher in the period December 2007 – January 2008 than in the period October – November 2007.

Manufacturing output