Manufacturing output slightly higher

The Dutch manufacturing production in April, after adjustment for working day patterns, was up by 0.4 percent on April 2005. In the first quarter, production was 0.9 percent higher than the year before.

The output of the chemical industry and the food, beverages and tobacco industry was up on April 2005, whereas the output was lower in the textile industry, paper and publishing industry, the metal industry and the wood and building materials industry.

It is best to use the seasonally adjusted figures to determine short-term developments in production. Since the monthly seasonally adjusted figures show a somewhat erratic course, it is better to compare the average over two months to the average of the preceding two-month period.

After adjustment for seasonal effects and working day patterns, manufacturing output in the period March-April was 0.3 percent higher than in January-February. It means that the recovery of production continues. The output of raw materials and semi-manufactured goods as well as the production of consumption and investment goods increased slightly in March-April.

Manufacturing output