Manufacturing output almost 2 percent down in February

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© Hollandse Hoogte / Westend61 GmbH
In February 2021, the average daily output generated by the Dutch manufacturing industry was 1.7 percent down on February 2020, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In January output was up by 0.3 percent. Manufacturers were more positive in March than in February.

Average daily output manufacturing (volume)
jaarmaandchange (year-on-year % change)
2017March3
2017April0.5
2017May5
2017June2.4
2017July2.7
2017August3.7
2017September4.8
2017October5.1
2017November5.3
2017December4.4
2018January7.5
2018February3.2
2018March3.8
2018April4.7
2018May2.9
2018June3.3
2018July0.9
2018August4
2018September1.7
2018October2.4
2018November1.3
2018December-4.3
2019January-0.6
2019February-0.1
2019March-0.8
2019April-0.3
2019May-0.9
2019June-2.5
2019July0
2019August-1.7
2019September1.2
2019Oktober0.5
2019November-1.6
2019December-1.2
2020January1.6
2020February-0.7
2020March-1.8
2020April-10.8
2020May-12
2020June-9.4
2020July-4.9
2020August-4
2020September-6.5
2020October-4.1
2020November-2.9
2020December0
2021January0.3
2021February-1.7

Output contraction in more than three-quarters of the industries

More than three-quarters of all industries saw their output decrease on an annual basis. The electrical and electronic appliance industry achieved the highest growth.

Average daily output manufacturing (volume) by sector, February 2021
Categorychange (year-on-year % change)
Electrical and electronics12.1
Chemical products6.3
Machinery4.1
Rubber and plastic products1.7
Metal products-0.9
Food products-2.3
Transport equipment-13.1
Repair and installation of machinery-28.3
Manufacturing (total)-1.7
Altogether, the industries referred to in the above graph account for approximately 75 percent of the total manufacturing output

Manufacturing output slows down a bit

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, a decrease of 2.5 percent is seen in manufacturing output between January and February 2021.

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. However, output fell again slightly in February 2021.

Seasonally adjusted average daily output manufacturing (volume)
jaarmaandindex (2015=100)
2017March105.2
2017April104.6
2017May106.6
2017June106.1
2017July106.1
2017August105.6
2017September107.3
2017October107.7
2017November109.7
2017December110.4
2018January110.5
2018February109.4
2018March109.4
2018April109.4
2018May109.6
2018June109.3
2018July107.6
2018August109.3
2018September109.1
2018October109.6
2018November110.2
2018December107
2019January109.6
2019February109.2
2019March108.8
2019April108.9
2019May108.5
2019June107.3
2019July107.5
2019August107.8
2019September109.5
2019October109.7
2019November108.4
2019December106.5
2020January109.3
2020February107.4
2020March106.2
2020April97.7
2020May96.2
2020June99.1
2020July102.8
2020August103.4
2020September103.5
2020October105.3
2020November105.3
2020December106
2021January108.4
2021February105.7

Producer confidence improved in March

In March 2021, the mood among Dutch manufacturers improved. Manufacturers were more positive about their expected future output and their order position.

Germany is an important foreign market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. German producer confidence improved considerably in March, according to the Business Climate Index of the IFO Institute. This is due to both an improved outlook on future output and a more positive opinion about the current situation.

The figures published in this news release are provisional and subject to revisions.