Extra working days contributed to sharp turnover growth manufacturing industry

Dutch manufacturers realised a turnover growth of 23 percent in May 2011 relative to May 2010. The working-day and holiday pattern in May 2011 was very different from May 2010. Ascension Day and Whitsun were in June this year instead of May and therefore May 2011 had more working days than May 2010. The positive effect on sales is estimated at approximately 8 percent. Prices of manufactured products were over 10 percent higher in May than one year previously.

Turnover increased most in the sector electrical engineering and machinery (+ 39 percent). The sector basic metals and metal products and the sector transport equipment realised 35 and 26 percent turnover growth respectively relative to twelve months previously. Manufacturers in the sector petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products generated 24 percent more turnover. Growth in this sector is largely due to higher selling prices. Although to a lesser extent, this was also the case in the food sector, where sales improved by 14 percent.

Sales on the export market were 26 percent up in May on one year previously, whereas sales on the domestic market grew by 19 percent. Turnover growth realised abroad has been higher than turnover growth on the domestic market for almost eighteen months now.

Manufacturing turnover

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.