Manufacturers less negative in November

Producer confidence in December 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 negative about order positions

Manufacturers’ assessment of the order positions were less pessimistic. They were equally positive about expected output for the next three months. However, their assessment of current stocks of finished products was more 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 negative in most of industrial sectors

Confidence was negative in most of the main industrial sectors. Among the most important sectors, only the metal industry and the food and beverage sector improved in December. Manufacturers in the electrotechnical and machinery sectors again were the most positive of all sectors, but also again less positive than in the previous month.

Manufacturing output down by 2.5 percent in October

In October 2024, the calendar-adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing sector was 2.5 percent lower than it was in October 2023. Year-on-year output has now contracted for sixteen consecutive months. After adjustments for seasonal and calendar effects, manufacturing output fell by 0.6 percent relative to September.