Manufacturers less negative in February

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© ANP / Peter Hilz
Dutch manufacturers were less negative in February than they were in January, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Producer confidence rose from -1.6 in January to -1.2 in February. Manufacturers were less negative about stocks of finished products.

Producer confidence in February was slightly above 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.

Less negative about stocks of finished products

Manufacturers’ assessment of current stocks of finished products was less negative. However, they were more negative about order positions and also less positive about expected output for the next three months.

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 improves in most industrial sectors

Confidence improved in most of the main industrial sectors. Producers in the petroleum and chemical industries were the most positive of the major sectors. Confidence in the transport equipment industry improved the most.

Manufacturing output down by over 4 percent in December

In December 2024, the calendar-adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing sector was 4.4 percent lower than it was in December 2023. After adjustments for seasonal and calendar effects, manufacturing output fell by 1.0 percent relative to November.

Sources

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