Manufacturing output 0.4 percent up in October

Strongest production growth in machinery industry

Of the eight largest industries within manufacturing, the machinery industry recorded the largest output growth at almost 24 percent. Production also increased in the electrotechnical products industry. However, most industries saw their output decline.

Trend virtually stable

A more accurate picture of short-term output developments is obtained when figures are adjusted for seasonal effects and the working-day pattern. After adjustments, manufacturing output remained more or less the same between September and October. 

Adjusted for seasonal and working-day effects, manufacturing output is seen to fluctuate significantly. From mid-2014 until the beginning of 2018, the overall trend was upward. Subsequently, the trend has been relatively stable.

Manufacturers less positive

Producer confidence among Dutch manufacturers has deteriorated in November 2019. Manufacturers are mainly less positive about their future output compared to the previous month.

Germany is an important foreign market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. According to the IFO index in manufacturing the business climate index has deteriorated in November. German manufacturers are more negative about their ongoing business, but less negative about their future output. According to the German statistical office Destatis, the average daily output generated by the German manufacturing industry was down by over 6 percent year-on-year.