Manufacturing output almost 8 percent up in January

Output growth in over half of the industries

In January, more than half of all manufacturing industries saw their output increase on an annual basis. With almost 47 percent, the machinery industry again achieved the highest growth. In the transport equipment industry, however, output contracted by almost 10 percent.

Manufacturing output at record level

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 1.2 percent is seen in manufacturing output between December and January.

Adjusted for seasonal and working-day effects, manufacturing output is seen to fluctuate significantly. In the spring of 2020, output declined rapidly and a low point was reached in May 2020. After that, output picked up again and in January 2022 it remained at a high level.

Manufacturers again less optimistic

In February 2022, the mood among Dutch manufacturers was again less positive than in the previous month. Nevertheless, producer confidence was well above its long-term average.

Germany is an important foreign market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. In February, German producer confidence according to the Business Climate Index of the IFO Institute improved again. In January, the average daily output generated by the German manufacturing industry grew by 0.2 percent year on year, as reported by Destatis.