Manufacturing output over 2 percent up in November

Strongest production growth in metal products industry

Output generated by the metal products industry was over 7 percent up in November relative to the same month in 2017. The industries producing machinery, rubber and plastics products, and electrotechnical products recorded above-average output growth as well.

Manufacturing output at highest level ever

A more accurate picture of short-term output developments is obtained when figures are adjusted for seasonal effects and the working-day pattern. After adjustments, an increase is seen in manufacturing output in November of 0.5 percent on the previous month.

Adjusted for seasonal variation, manufacturing output shows an irregular pattern with many ups and downs, but since mid-2014, the overall trend has been upward.

Producer confidence increases again

Producer confidence among Dutch manufacturers increased in December 2018. Producers are more positive about their future output.

Germany is an important foreign market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. Confidence (i.e. the IFO index) dropped in December for the fourth consecutive month. According to the IFO index, German manufacturers were less optimistic about their future output. In November, the average daily output generated by the German manufacturing industry was almost 5 percent lower than in the same month one year previously.

With effect from the reporting month October 2018, manufacturing output figures are published using 2015 as the base year (previously 2010=100). Adjustments have also been made to the method used. As a consequence, results published in this news release may differ from the results as published based on 2010 (2010=100).