Manufacturers equally negative
In September, producer confidence was below the 20-year average of 1.4. It reached an all-time high (12.7) in November 2021 and an all-time low (-28.7) in April 2020.
| year | month | balance (average of the component questions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | October | 3.6 |
| 2019 | November | 2.8 |
| 2019 | December | 2.9 |
| 2020 | January | 2.5 |
| 2020 | February | 3.7 |
| 2020 | March | 0.2 |
| 2020 | April | -28.7 |
| 2020 | May | -25.1 |
| 2020 | June | -15.1 |
| 2020 | July | -8.7 |
| 2020 | August | -5.4 |
| 2020 | September | -4.8 |
| 2020 | October | -5.6 |
| 2020 | November | -3.8 |
| 2020 | December | -0.4 |
| 2021 | January | 0.6 |
| 2021 | February | 0.1 |
| 2021 | March | 3.4 |
| 2021 | April | 6.5 |
| 2021 | May | 8.8 |
| 2021 | June | 11.5 |
| 2021 | July | 12.3 |
| 2021 | August | 9.6 |
| 2021 | September | 11.1 |
| 2021 | October | 12.3 |
| 2021 | November | 12.7 |
| 2021 | December | 10.2 |
| 2022 | January | 9 |
| 2022 | February | 8.5 |
| 2022 | March | 8.7 |
| 2022 | April | 10.8 |
| 2022 | May | 9.9 |
| 2022 | June | 8.1 |
| 2022 | July | 8.4 |
| 2022 | August | 4.6 |
| 2022 | September | 2.6 |
| 2022 | October | 2.5 |
| 2022 | November | 3 |
| 2022 | December | 3.3 |
| 2023 | January | 3.6 |
| 2023 | February | 3.7 |
| 2023 | March | 4 |
| 2023 | April | 3 |
| 2023 | May | 2.1 |
| 2023 | June | 1 |
| 2023 | July | 0.1 |
| 2023 | August | -2.2 |
| 2023 | September | -2.2 |
Opinions on order positions deteriorated
Manufacturers were less positive about their order positions. However, they were less negative about expected output in the next three months and about current stocks of finished products.
Two component indicators were negative. Manufacturers anticipating output to decrease over the next three months outnumber those expecting an increase. More manufacturers define their current stock of finished products as large rather than small.
One component was positive. The majority of manufacturers consider their order position to be strong rather than weak, given the time of year.
| September 2023 (balance % positive answers and % negative answers) | Augustus 2023 (balance % positive answers and % negative answers) | |
|---|---|---|
| Producer confidence | -2.2 | -2.2 |
| Opinion on order books | 0.9 | 2.6 |
| Expected output | -3 | -3.8 |
| Stocks of finished products | -4.5 | -5.5 |
Producer confidence up in half of the industries
In half of the major manufacturing industries, producer confidence improved in September. Confidence was again highest in the electrotechnical and machinery industry, despite a decrease. Producer confidence was again lowest in the timber and building materials industry.
| September 2023 (average of the component questions) | August 2023 (average of the component questions) | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrotechnical products and machinery | 9.1 | 10.2 |
| Textiles, clothes, leather | 8 | 1.5 |
| Transport equipment | -2.3 | -0.7 |
| Food, beverages, tobacco | -2.5 | -2.5 |
| Paper and printing | -4 | 0.2 |
| Metal | -5.6 | -5.4 |
| Petroleum and chemicals | -7.1 | -11.6 |
| Timber and building materials | -17 | -17.3 |
Manufacturing output nearly 8 percent down in June
About three weeks ago, CBS reported that in July 2023 the average daily output of the Dutch manufacturing industry was 8.3 percent lower than in July 2022. Output also contracted year on year in the preceding months of 2023.
Sources
Related items
- Dossier - Business cycle