Manufacturing output virtually unchanged

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© Hollandse Hoogte / David Rozing
The average daily output generated by the Dutch manufacturing industry was 0.1 percent up in January 2019 compared to the same month last year. In December, output contracted for the first time in more than 3 years. Output in the metal products industry showed the strongest year-on-year growth.

Average daily output manufacturing (volume)
jaarmaandchange (year-on-year % change)
2015January-1.3
2015February-1.7
2015March-0.2
2015April-1.1
2015May1.8
2015June3.1
2015July0.3
2015August-1.1
2015September-0.6
2015October2.5
2015November1.9
2015December2.9
2016January3.5
2016February0.7
2016March2.3
2016April4.4
2016May2.7
2016June3.2
2016July3.3
2016August2.4
2016September2.3
2016October0
2016November3.4
2016December6.7
2017January0.4
2017February4.9
2017March3
2017April0.5
2017May5
2017June2.4
2017July2.7
2017August3.7
2017September4.8
2017October5.1
2017November5.3
2017December4.4
2018January8.6
2018February3.8
2018March4.5
2018April5.3
2018May3.4
2018June3.9
2018July2.2
2018August5.5
2018September3.1
2018October3.6
2018November2.5
2018December-3.2
2019January0.1
 

Strongest production growth in metal products industry

Output generated by the metal products industry increased by over 9 percent in January relative to the same month in 2018. In addition, production levels in the rubber and plastic, the transport equipment and the electrotechnical products industry were higher than one year previously. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical, chemical, machinery and food products industries saw a decline year-on-year.

Average daily output manufacturing (volume) by sector, January 2019
 change (year-on-year % change)
Metal products9.3
Rubber and plastic products5.5
Transport equipment5.3
Electrotechnical products1.8
Pharmaceutical products-1.9
Chemical products-3.2
Machinery-3.4
Food products-5.5
Manufacturing (total)0.1

Manufacturing output increasing

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 between December 2018 and January 2019 of 2.8 percent.

Adjusted for seasonal and working-day effects, manufacturing output is seen to fluctuate significantly.

Seasonally adjusted average daily output manufacturing (volume)
jaarmaandindex (2015=100)
2015February100.2
2015March99.7
2015April99.7
2015May99.5
2015June100.6
2015July99.9
2015August98.8
2015September99.3
2015October101.4
2015November101.5
2015December100.4
2016January101.9
2016February101.1
2016March102.1
2016April103.4
2016May102.1
2016June103.3
2016July102.9
2016August101.7
2016September102.3
2016October102.5
2016November105
2016December106.3
2017January103.1
2017February105.5
2017March105.2
2017April104.6
2017May106.6
2017June106.1
2017July106.1
2017August105.6
2017September107.3
2017October107.7
2017November109.7
2017December110.4
2018January111.1
2018February109.7
2018March110
2018April109.8
2018May110.2
2018June110.1
2018July109.3
2018August111.2
2018September111
2018October111.3
2018November111.8
2018December108.1
2019January111.1

Dutch manufacturers slightly more positive

In February 2019, confidence among Dutch manufacturers increased slightly. The increase can be attributed to more positive opinions on the stocks of finished products.

Germany is an important sales market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. According to the IFO index, confidence fell to its lowest level since May 2016. This was due to both more pessimistic business expectations and less optimistic opinions on the current situation. In January, the average daily output generated by the German manufacturing industry was almost 4 percent down year-on-year.

With effect from the reporting month of 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. The results published in this news release may therefore differ from the results as published based on 2010 (2010=100).

The figures published in this news release are provisional and subject to revisions.