Manufacturing output up by over 1 percent in March

Growth in almost half of all industrial sectors

Almost half of the various industrial sectors produced more than they did one year previously. Of the eight largest sectors, output rose the most sharply in the repair and installation of machinery, while it fell the most sharply in the transport equipment sector.

Adjusted output decreased in March

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 adjustment, manufacturing output fell by 0.6 percent in March relative to February.

After adjustments 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 more negative in April

Dutch manufacturers were slightly more negative in March than they were in February. Manufacturers were more negative about stocks of finished products and their order positions.

Germany is an important market for the Dutch manufacturing sector. In April, German entrepreneurs were less negative than they were in March, as reported by Eurostat. In March, the calendar-adjusted output of the German manufacturing sector was up by 0.3 percent year on year. Relative to February, output rose by 3.5 percent, as reported by Destatis.