Manufacturing output down by over 4 percent in December

Contraction in over half of industrial sectors

More than half of the various industrial sectors produced less than they did one year previously. Of the eight largest sectors, output fell the most sharply in the transport equipment sector, while it rose the most in the repair and installation of machinery.

Adjusted output decreased in December

A more accurate picture of changes in short-term output is obtained when the figures are adjusted for seasonal effects and the working-day pattern. After adjustment, manufacturing output fell by 1.0 percent in December relative to November.

After adjustments for seasonal and working-day effects, manufacturing output often fluctuates significantly. In the spring of 2020, output declined rapidly, reaching a low point in May 2020. This was followed by an upward trend until May 2022. The trend has reversed since then.

Manufacturers equally negative in January

Dutch manufacturers were just as negative in January as they were in December. Manufacturers were less negative about their order positions, but also less positive about expected output and more negative about stocks of finished products.

Germany is an important market for the Dutch manufacturing sector. In January, German business owners were less negative than they were in December, as reported by Eurostat. In December, the calendar-adjusted output of the German manufacturing sector was down by 4.0 percent year on year. Relative to November, output fell by 3.3 percent, as reported by Destatis.