Manufacturing output continues to grow
Transport equipment sector performs best
Output generated by the sector transport equipment was more than 13 percent up in September 2016 from September last year, due to an increase in the production of passenger cars and trucks. The production of rubber and plastic products, chemical products and machinery was also above average, but output generated by the pharmaceutical industry, the electrical equipment industry and the metal products industry declined relative to September 2015.
| % change | |
|---|---|
| Transport equipment | 13.5 |
| Rubber and plastic products | 9.6 |
| Chemical products | 8.4 |
| Machinery | 4.1 |
| Food products | 0 |
| Metal products | -2.5 |
| Electrotechnical products | -3.4 |
| Pharmaceutical products | -9.4 |
| Manufacturing (total) | 2.4 |
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 August to September 2016, manufacturing output grew by 0.4 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.
Producer confidence continues to grow
A few weeks ago, CBS reported that confidence among Dutch manufacturers has improved further in October, due to the more positive mood among manufacturers about their future output.
Germany is an important foreign market for Dutch manufacturing industry. Just as their Dutch counterparts, German manufacturers were more optimistic in October than in September. Their confidence indicator reached the highest level in more than two years. The average daily output generated by German manufacturing industry was 1.6 percent higher in September 2016 than in September 2015.
The numbers in this publication are provisional and can be adjusted.