Producer confidence picks up
Since October 2014, optimism has prevailed among Dutch manufacturers. Manufacturers in the textiles, clothes and leather industry are the most positive.
Confidence among Dutch manufacturers is significantly above its long-term average over the past two decades (0.5). The business confidence indicator reached an all-time high (9.4) in January 2008, but dipped to an all-time low (- 23.5) more than one year later.
More positive about future output and order books, less positive about stocks
In September, Dutch manufacturers are more positive about their future output over the next three months than in August. They were also more positive about their order books, but less optimistic about their stocks of finished products.
In September all three component indicators of producer confidence are positive. Manufacturers who anticipate output growth over the next three months outnumber those expecting output to decline during this period. Given the time of year, manufacturers who think the number of orders they received is large constitute a majority over those who think the opposite. Lastly, manufacturers who define their stocks of finished products as too small still outnumber those who define their stocks of finished products as too large.
Producers in the textiles, clothes and leather industry most positive
Manufacturers in the textiles, clothes and leather industry are most optimistic, followed by their counterparts in the paper and printing industry. Manufacturers in the textiles, clothes and leather industry are particularly positive about their future output. The mood among producers of transport equipment, on the other hand, is negative, mainly based upon their future output prospects. Confidence improved most noticeably among manufacturers of machinery and electrical equipment.
| balance | |
|---|---|
| Textiles,clothes,leather | 10.5 |
| Paper and printing | 7.2 |
| Petreoleum,chemical,rubber,plastic | 5.9 |
| Wood and construction | 5.3 |
| Food,drinks,tobacco | 4.4 |
| Electrotechnical products and machinery | 4.2 |
| Metal | 3.4 |
| Transport equipment | -4.4 |
Sustained growth manufacturing output
The average daily output generated by Dutch manufacturing industry was 2.5 percent up in July 2016 from the same month last year. The increase was less substantial than in June. Output realised in the food sector was significantly higher in July, but production of electrical appliances slumped.
German manufacturers considerably more positive
Germany is an important foreign market for Dutch manufacturing industry. German manufacturers were also more optimistic in September than in August. Their confidence indicator reached the highest level in more than a year. The output level of German manufacturing industry was lower in July 2016 than in July 2015.