Manufacturing output 5.5 percent down in January

Decrease in most industries

Most industries produced less than one year previously. Among the larger industries, output fell most sharply in the transport equipment industry.

Output decreased in January

A more accurate picture of short-term output developments is obtained when figures are adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects.  After adjustments for seasonal and calendar effects, manufacturing output fell by 4.7 percent in January relative to December.

Adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, manufacturing output fluctuates significantly in general. In spring 2020, output declined rapidly, reaching a low point in May 2020. This was followed by an upward trend until May 2022. The trend has reversed since then.

Manufacturers less negative in January

Dutch manufacturers were marginally less negative in February than they were one month previously. They were more positive about expected output, in particular. However, they were more negative about the order book.

Germany is an important market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. In February, German entrepreneurs were more negative than they were in January. In January, the calendar-adjusted output generated by the German manufacturing industry was down by 5.4 percent year on year. Relative to December, output rose by 1.0 percent, as reported by Destatis.

With effect from the reporting month of January 2024, the base year for the manufacturing output has changed from 2015 to 2021. Furthermore, the weightings have been adjusted and some method changes have been implemented. There is also no longer talk of average daily production, but of calendar adjusted production. With calendar adjustment, a correction is also made for the effect that the difference in working days has on production. A different composition of calendar days therefore has no influence on year-on-year developments. The old series (base year = 2015) can still be accessed in StatLine, but will no longer be updated.