Dutch manufacturers more positive

The long-term average over the past two decades is 1.0. Producer confidence reached an all-time high (10.9) in February 2018 and an all-time low (-23.5) in February 2009. Optimism has prevailed among Dutch manufacturers since October 2014.

More positive about future output, order position and stocks

In February, Dutch manufacturers are more positive about their future output and their order position. Their opinion on stocks of finished products have also improved.

All component indicators of producer confidence are positive. Manufacturers who anticipate output growth over the next three months outnumber those expecting output decline. More manufacturers consider their order position to be strong rather than weak, given the time of year. There are more manufacturers who define their current stocks of finished products as too small rather than too large.

Producers in textiles, clothes and leather industry most positive

In February, producers in the textiles, clothes and leather industry have the most optimistic outlook. Also noticeable is that producer confidence in the transport equipment industry has improved substantially.

Manufacturing output 0.6 percent down in December

The average daily output generated by the Dutch manufacturing industry was 0.6 percent down in December 2019 relative to the same month one year previously. The year-on-year decline was smaller than in the previous month.

Confidence among German manufacturers less negative

Germany is an important foreign market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. According to the IFO institute, manufacturing is showing signs of recovery. For the third consecutive month, in February German manufacturers are less negative compared to the previous month. They are mainly less negative about their future output. In December, the average daily output generated by the German manufacturing industry was over 7 percent lower than in the same month one year previously. This is reported by Destatis.