Manufacturing output up by 1 percent in February

Growth in over 40 percent of all industrial sectors

Over 40 percent of the various industrial sectors produced more than they did one year previously. Of the eight largest sectors, output rose the most sharply in the repair and installation of machinery, while it rose the most sharply in the transport equipment sector.

Adjusted output increased in February

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 rose by 1.2 percent in February relative to January.

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 slightly more negative in March

Dutch manufacturers were slightly more negative in March than they were in February. Manufacturers were more negative about stocks of finished products and their order positions.

Germany is an important market for the Dutch manufacturing sector. In March, German business owners were less negative than they were in February, as reported by Eurostat. In February, the calendar-adjusted output of the German manufacturing sector was down by 4.1 percent year on year. Relative to January, output fell by 0.6 percent, as reported by Destatis.