Producers almost as negative as in July

Producer confidence in July 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.

More positive about expected output

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

One component indicator of producer confidence was positive: manufacturers who anticipated an increase in output over the next three months outnumbered those expecting a decrease. However, two other 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 negative in almost all industrial sectors

Confidence was negative in almost all industrial sectors. Only manufacturers in the timber and building materials industries were positive in July. Manufacturers in the metal industry were the most negative.

Slight increase in capacity utilisation rate

The industrial capacity utilisation rate stood at 77.7 percent at the start of Q3 2025. That was slightly higher than Q2 (77.5 percent), but still lower than in Q3 2024 (78.0 percent).

Manufacturing output up by 0.8 percent in May

In May, the calendar-adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing sector was 0.8 percent higher than it was in May 2024. Manufacturing output rose by 0.5 percent relative to April, after adjusting for seasonal- and calendar effects.