Sustained growth manufacturing output
Considerable output growth food sector
Output generated by the sector food was 6.5 percent up in July from July 2015. Output growth in the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the rubber and plastic products industry and the transport equipment sector was also above average. Production realised in the machinery and the electrical equipment industry, on the other hand, declined relative to July 2015.
| % change | |
|---|---|
| Food products | 6.5 |
| Chemical products | 5.7 |
| Pharmaceutical products | 4.3 |
| Rubber and plastic products | 3.5 |
| Transport equipment | 3.2 |
| Metal products | 1.5 |
| Machinery | -1.9 |
| Electrotechnical products | -2.2 |
| Manufacturing (total) | 2.5 |
Altogether, the industries referred to in the above graph account for approximately 70 percent of total manufacturing output.
Positive trend manufacturing output
Figures adjusted for seasonal effects and the working-day pattern provide a more reliable picture of short-term output developments. From June to July 2016, manufacturing output declined by 0.8 percent.
Adjusted for seasonal variation, manufacturing output shows an irregular pattern with many ups and downs, but since mid-2014, the overall trend has been upward.
Dutch manufacturers far less positive
By the end of last month, CBS reported that producer confidence was much lower in August. The producer confidence indicator stood at 1.2 in August, down from 5.1 in July, i.e. the most substantial decline in 5 years. However, optimism prevailed among Dutch manufacturers and their confidence is still above its long-term average over the past two decades (0.5).
Germany is an important foreign market for Dutch manufacturing industry. The mood among German manufacturers also deteriorated in August compared to July. The average daily output generated by German manufacturing industry was down in July from the same month last year.
The numbers in this publication are provisional and can be adjusted.