Manufacturers slightly more negative in March

Producer confidence in March was below the 20-year average of -1.3. It reached an all-time high (10.4) in October 2021 and an all-time low (-31.5) in April 2020.

Less positive about expected output

Manufacturers were less positive about expected output for the next three months, and were also more negative about their current stocks of finished products. They were slightly less negative about order positions however.

One component indicator was positive: manufacturers anticipating an increase in output over the next three months outnumbered those expecting a decrease.

Two component indicators were negative. More manufacturers see their order position as weak rather than strong for the time of year, and more manufacturers describe their current stock of finished products as large rather than small.

Producer confidence most positive in the paper and printing industry

Confidence was negative in most manufacturing sectors in March. Producer confidence in the paper and printing industry was the highest, and it was lowest in the timber and building materials industry.

Manufacturing output down by 5.5 percent in January

In January, the calendar adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing industry was 5.5 percent lower than in January 2023. Output also contracted year-on-year in the preceding nine months of 2023. After adjustments for seasonal and calendar effects, manufacturing output fell by 4.7 percent in January relative to December.

As of January 2024, a number of changes have been made to producer confidence. Producer confidence and the component indicators are no longer corrected for insufficient objective assessment (bias) by the producer. This causes a level shift (decrease) for the entire series. In addition, the figures have been recalculated from January 2012 using a different weighting method. The seasonal adjustment method has also been improved.