Transport equipment sector hit by economic crisis

Loss of output recorded in all branches of manufacturing industry

A reduced demand for goods and services produced by the transport sector has caused a sharp drop in production generated by transport equipment manufacturers. In other branches of manufacturing industry, the current economic climate also resulted in a lower capacity utilisation rate. Manufacturers of basic metals and metal products saw their output slump by 18 percent. The sector food, drinks and tobacco appears to be the least cyclically sensitive. Between October 2008 and September 2009, output realised by this sector was 2 percent down on the same period in 2008. In the entire manufacturing industry sector, production shrank by 11 percent.

Production manufacturing industry by branch

Netherlands performs relatively well within Europe

With 16 percent, the countries which constitute the former EU 15 together faced a much more substantial downturn in production than Dutch manufacturing industry. After Ireland, the Netherlands and Greece suffered the least from the global recession in the EU 15.

Production in the EU 15, October 2008–September 2009

Fintan van Berkel and Hans Draper