Manufacturing output 14.1 percent up in July

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© Hollandse Hoogte / Ton Toemen
In July 2021, the average daily output generated by the Dutch manufacturing industry was up by 14.1 percent from July 2020, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Output was up by 17.9 percent in the previous month. Compared to July 2019, growth was more than 9 percent. This made up amply for the loss in July 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Average daily output manufacturing (volume)
jaarmaandchange (year-on-year % change)
2017August3.7
2017September4.8
2017October5.1
2017November5.3
2017December4.4
2018January7.5
2018February3.2
2018March3.8
2018April4.7
2018May2.9
2018June3.3
2018July0.9
2018August4
2018September1.7
2018October2.4
2018November1.3
2018December-4.3
2019January-0.6
2019February-0.1
2019March-0.8
2019April-0.3
2019May-0.9
2019June-2.5
2019July0
2019August-1.7
2019September1.2
2019Oktober0.5
2019November-1.6
2019December-1.2
2020January1.7
2020February-0.5
2020March-1.4
2020April-10.5
2020May-11.7
2020June-9.1
2020July-4.3
2020August-3.4
2020September-5.8
2020October-3.5
2020November-2.3
2020December0.5
2021January1.1
2021February-2
2021March3.3
2021April13.1
2021May16.2
2021June17.9
2021July14.1

Output growth in more than three-quarters of the industries

In July, more than three-quarters of all industries saw their output increase on an annual basis. With 63.8 percent, the machinery industry achieved by far the highest growth. However, production contracted in the transport equipment industry. Because of a chip shortage a number of factories were forced to halt production temporarily in July.

Average daily output manufacturing (volume) by sector, July 2021
Categorychange (year-on-year % change)
Machinery63.8
Electrical and electronics16.1
Metal products15.2
Rubber and plastic products7.2
Chemical products3.8
Food products1.5
Repair and installation of machinery-5.3
Transport equipment-6
Manufacturing (total)14.1
Altogether, the industries referred to in the above graph account for approximately 75 percent of the total manufacturing output

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 of 1.3 percent is seen in manufacturing output between June and July 2021.

Adjusted for seasonal and working-day effects, manufacturing output is seen to fluctuate significantly. In the spring of 2020, output declined rapidly and a low point was reached in May 2020. After that, output picked up again. In July 2021, it was at its highest level ever. 

Seasonally adjusted average daily output manufacturing (volume)
jaarmaandindex (2015=100)
2017August105.6
2017September107.3
2017October107.7
2017November109.7
2017December110.4
2018January110.5
2018February109.4
2018March109.4
2018April109.4
2018May109.6
2018June109.3
2018July107.6
2018August109.3
2018September109.1
2018October109.6
2018November110.2
2018December107
2019January109.6
2019February109.2
2019March108.8
2019April108.9
2019May108.5
2019June107.3
2019July107.5
2019August107.8
2019September109.5
2019October109.7
2019November108.4
2019December106.5
2020January109
2020February108.4
2020March106
2020April97.4
2020May96.5
2020June99.4
2020July103.4
2020August104
2020September104.2
2020October106.2
2020November106.3
2020December107.1
2021January109.6
2021February106.7
2021March109.8
2021April111.0
2021May112.4
2021June115.7
2021July117.3

Dutch manufacturers less positive in August

In August 2021, the mood among Dutch manufacturers deteriorated. However, producer confidence was still well above the average of the past two decades.

Germany is an important foreign market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. In August, German producer confidence was less positive than in July according to the Business Climate Index of the IFO Institute. Opinions on the present level of business activity deteriorated, and optimism declined with regard to expectations. In July, the average daily output generated by the German manufacturing industry grew by over 6 percent year-on-year, as reported by Destatis. Compared to July 2019, however, output was still nearly 6 percent lower.

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

Due to technical problems, the corresponding StatLine table has not been updated with the recent figures for July. This table will be published on Monday 13 September.