Manufacturing output growth rate high again

Dutch manufacturing industry is still thriving. The average daily output in April was 6 percent up on one year previously, thus equalling the growth rate of February and March. This is the highest manufacturing output growth rate since May 2000.

Production was higher in all sectors of manufacturing industry compared to April 2006. The increase was most significant (over 10 percent) in production of textiles. The increase in the metal industry was also well above the average for the manufacturing industry as a whole.

For a more reliable picture of short-term production developments, it is best to look at the production figures after correction of seasonal effects. As monthly figures are often somewhat erratic, the two-month average compared with the previous two-month average is preferred.

After correction for working days and seasonal effects, manufacturing production was nearly 1 percent higher in the period March-April than in the period January-February.

Manufacturing output