Continued growth manufacturing output
Transport equipment sector performs best
Output generated by the sector transport equipment was 10 percent up in August 2016 from August last year. The output growth rates of industries producing chemical products, machinery, rubber and plastic products, electrical equipment and metal products was also above average, but output generated by the pharmaceutical industry declined relative to August 2015.
| % change | |
|---|---|
| Transport equipment | 10 |
| Chemical products | 5.5 |
| Machinery | 4.3 |
| Rubber and plastic products | 3.5 |
| Electrotechnical products | 3.5 |
| Metal products | 2.3 |
| Food products | 0.7 |
| Pharmaceutical products | -6.8 |
| Manufacturing (total) | 2.2 |
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 July to August 2016, manufacturing output declined by 0.9 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 producer confidence picks up
A few weeks ago, CBS reported that confidence among Dutch manufacturers has improved in September. Producer confidence has partly recovered from the setback in August.
Germany is an important foreign market for Dutch manufacturing industry. German manufacturers were also more optimistic in September than in August. Their confidence indicator reached the highest level in more than a year.
The numbers in this publication are provisional and can be adjusted