Manufacturing output 0.3 percent up in January

Production growth in machinery industry

Of the eight largest industries within manufacturing, the machinery industry recorded the highest output growth. Slightly over half of the other industries saw their output decline on an annual basis.

Trend fairly stable

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 and January of 3.1 percent. 

Adjusted for seasonal and working-day effects, manufacturing output is seen to fluctuate significantly. From mid-2014 until the beginning of 2018, the overall trend was upward. Subsequently, the trend has been fairly stable.

Dutch manufacturers more positive

Producer confidence among Dutch manufacturers has improved in February 2020. Manufacturers were mainly more positive about their future output and order position.

Germany is an important foreign market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. According to the IFO institute, manufacturing is showing signs of recovery. For the third consecutive month, in February German manufacturers are less negative compared to the previous month. They are mainly less negative about their future output. In January, the average daily output generated by the German manufacturing industry was over 2 percent lower than in the same month one year previously. This is reported by Destatis.