Manufacturing output down by a fraction in November

Contraction in half of industries

In November, half of all manufacturing industries saw their output decrease on an annual basis. Among the larger industries, the chemical industry recorded that sharpest contraction.

Output fell in November

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, a 2.0-percent decline is seen in manufacturing output from October to November.

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, until May 2022. The trend seems to have reversed since then, but output is still relatively high.

Producer confidence increases again slightly

Confidence among Dutch manufacturers improved further in December 2022 as manufacturers were more positive about their future output.

Germany is an important market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. In December, German entrepreneurs showed improved confidence, according to the Business Climate Index of the IFO Institute; they were less pessimistic about the future and more positive about their current situation. The average daily output generated by the German manufacturing industry was up by 0.5 percent year on year in November, as reported by Destatis.