Manufacturing output 2.5 percent down in November

Output growth in about half of the industries

In November, approximately half of the industries saw their output grow on an annual basis. Of the industries within manufacturing, the chemical industry recorded the strongest output growth. This important industry recorded higher year-on-year production for the fifth month in a row.

Manufacturing output recovers in fits and starts

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, an decrease of 0.2 percent is seen in manufacturing output between October and November.

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 downward. A low point was reached in May 2020. After that, output picked up again, but was still over 4 percent lower in November than in January 2020.

Dutch manufacturers again less negative

Confidence among Dutch manufacturers is again less negative in December. This the highest level since April 2020. Manufacturers are mainly more positive about future output.

Germany is an important foreign market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. According to the Business Climate Index of the IFO Institute, producer confidence has improved in December for the eight consecutive month. Opinions on both the present level of business activity and that over the next few months are now more positive. In November, the average daily output generated by the German industry contracted by almost 4 percent year-on-year, as reported by Destatis.