Output manufacturing industry down

The average daily output generated by Dutch manufacturing industry was down by nearly 2 percent in January 2012 from January 2011. In December, manufacturing output was still 3.5 percent up on one year previously.

Output shrank most significantly in the transport equipment sector (– 8 percent). Output in the sector electrical engineering and machinery dropped by 2 percent, in the food sector and in basic metals and metal products by 1 percent. Output generated in the sectors petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products, on the other hand, grew by almost 2 percent.

Seasonally adjusted figures provide a more reliable picture of short-term production developments. Monthly figures adjusted for seasonal variation often show a somewhat erratic pattern. Therefore, the two-month average compared to the previous two-month average is a more accurate indicator. After correction for seasonal variation and the number of working days, manufacturing output over the period December-January was 0.3 percent up on the period October-November.

Manufacturing output (volume)