Manufacturers more negative in October

Producer confidence in October 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. However, their assessment of the order positions and of current stocks of finished products was less negative. 

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

Two component indicators were negative. Manufacturers were more likely to indicate that their order position was weak rather than strong for the time of year, and more manufacturers described their current stock of finished products as large rather than small.

Producer confidence down in over half of industrial sectors

Confidence deteriorated in more than half of the main industrial sectors. Manufacturers in the electrotechnical and machinery sectors were the most positive of all sectors, but less positive than in September.

Capacity utilisation rate decreases

The industrial capacity utilisation rate stood at 77.1 percent at the start of Q4 2024, compared with 78.0 percent in the previous quarter. That has been the lowest rate since October 2020.

Manufacturing output down by 0.5 percent in August

In August 2024, the calendar-adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing sector was 0.5 percent lower than it was in August 2023. The contraction was smaller than in the preceding seven months. After adjustments for seasonal and calendar effects, manufacturing output rose by 2.1 percent relative to July.