Dutch manufacturing output fell 0.5 per cent in August compared to the same month a year earlier. However, the contraction is smaller than in the previous seven months.
This is shown by CBS figures. In almost half of the business classes in manufacturing, production in August was lower than in August 20232. Repair and installation and machinery recorded the biggest drop in production at -14.3%. Production of transport equipment fell by 7.5%, while mechanical engineering produced 3% less.
The metal products industry actually showed the largest increase at 4.1 per cent. The production of rubber and plastics also increased (1.5%), as did food production (1.1%).
Increase compared to July
Compared to July, manufacturing output rose by 2.1 per cent in August. These are seasonally and calendar-adjusted figures. CBS points out that figures adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects usually fluctuate considerably, with decreases and increases following each other in quick succession.
Manufacturing output bottomed out in May 2022. It then started an upward trend until May 2022, after which the trend reversed. In particular, production fell sharply in the period June to October 2023.
Confidence increases
Manufacturers in the manufacturing industry were slightly less negative in September than in August, by the way. Manufacturers were more positive about expected activity. Producer confidence in September was below the average of the past 20 years, CBS reported.
Germany is an important sales market for Dutch manufacturing. With our eastern neighbours, confidence was actually more negative in September than in August, Eurostat figures show. The calendar-adjusted output of German industry came in 3% lower in August than a year earlier. German output was up 3.4% on July.
More information is available here.
