Manufacturing output down by over 2 percent in February

Decrease in more than half of industrial sectors

More than half of industrial sectors produced less than they did one year previously. Among the eight larger industrial sectors, output fell the most sharply in the transport equipment industry.

Output increased in February

A more accurate picture of changes in short-term output is obtained when the figures are adjusted for seasonal effects and the working-day pattern. After these adjustments, manufacturing output rose by 1.4 percent in February relative to January.

Adjusted for seasonal and working-day effects, manufacturing output often fluctuates significantly. In the spring of 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 slightly more negative in March

Dutch manufacturers were slightly more negative in March than they were in February. They were less positive about expected output and more negative about current stocks.

Germany is an important market for Dutch manufacturing. In March, German entrepreneurs were less negative than they were in February. In February, the calendar-adjusted output of the German manufacturing sector was down by 5.4 percent year on year. Relative to January, output rose by 1.8 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. The old series (base year = 2015) can still be accessed in StatLine, but will no longer be updated.