Confidence among manufacturers is slightly improving in September

These are the most recent figures on this topic. View the previous figures here.
© ANP / Rob Engelaar
Dutch manufacturers were slightly less negative in September than they were in August, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Producer confidence went up from -1.9 in August to -1.7 in September. Manufacturers were more positive about expected output.

Producer confidence in September was below the 20-year average of -1.3. It reached an all-time high (10.4) in October 2021 and an all-time low (-31.5) in April 2020.

Producer confidence manufacturing industry (seasonally adjusted)
yearmonthbalance (average of the component questions)
2020October-7.7
2020November-6.4
2020December-3.2
2021January-1.8
2021February-2.6
2021March0.6
2021April3.6
2021May5.6
2021June7.8
2021July9.2
2021August7.1
2021September9.1
2021October10.4
2021November10.1
2021December7.3
2022January6.5
2022February5.8
2022March5.7
2022April7.2
2022May5.8
2022June4.2
2022July5.3
2022August2.4
2022September1.2
2022October0.9
2022November1.1
2022December1
2023January1.1
2023February0.9
2023March0.9
2023April -0.3
2023May-1.7
2023June-2.7
2023July-2.7
2023August-4.6
2023September-3.9
2023Oktober-3.7
2023November-2.6
2023December-5.7
2024January-4.4
2024February-4.2
2024March-4.8
2024April-3.6
2024May-2.8
2024June-2.4
2024July-2.7
2024August-1.9
2024September-1.7

More positive about expected output

Manufacturers were more positive about their expected output for the next three months. However, their assessment of the order positions was more negative. Manufacturers’ assessment of current stocks of finished products remained the same.

One component indicator was positive: manufacturers who anticipated an increase in output over the next three months outnumbered those expecting a decrease.

Two component indicators were negative. Manufacturers were more likely to indicate that their order position was weak rather than strong for the time of year, and more manufacturers described their current stock of finished products as large rather than small.

Producer confidence: component indicators (seasonally adjusted)
 September (balance % positive answers and % negative answers)August (balance % positive answers and % negative answers)
Producer confidence-1.7-1.9
Expected output11.910.7
Assessment of stocks of finished products-4.9-4.9
Assessment of order-book levels-12-11.4

Producer confidence most positive in the electrotechnical and machinery sector

Confidence improved in half of the main industrial sectors. Confidence increased the most among manufacturers in the electrotechnical and machinery sector. They were also the most positive of all sectors.

Producer confidence by sector (seasonally adjusted)
 September (average of the component questions)August (average of the component questions)
Electrotechnical products and machinery6.31.7
Textiles, clothes, leather3.2-7.2
Petroleum and chemicals-0.9-3.6
Paper and printing-1.8-3.7
Timber and building materials-42
Food, beverages, tobacco-4.8-3.6
Metal-7.7-2.8
Transport equipment-8.3-7.5

Manufacturing output down by over 4 percent in July

In July 2024, the calendar-adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing sector was 4.4 percent lower than it was in July 2023. Year-on-year output also contracted in the preceding twelve months. After adjustments for seasonal and calendar effects, manufacturing output fell by 1.1 percent relative to June.