In May 2024, the calendar-adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing industry was 3.0 percent lower than it was in May 2023, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Year-on-year output also contracted in the preceding ten months.
Output manufacturing (calendar adjusted, volume)
  maand change (year-on-year % change)
2020 June -7.5
2020 July -3.2
2020 August -1.8
2020 September -2.2
2020 October -2.3
2020 November -1.3
2020 December 0
2021 January 0.4
2021 February -3.7
2021 March 2.7
2021 April 11.3
2021 May 12.6
2021 June 13.4
2021 July 9.2
2021 August 5.6
2021 September 7.5
2021 October 7.9
2021 November 9.5
2021 December 12.7
2022 January 7.3
2022 February 10.6
2022 March 9
2022 April 12.3
2022 May 10.4
2022 June 9
2022 July 8.1
2022 August 8.3
2022 September 7.9
2022 October 5.4
2022 November 3.5
2022 December 4
2023 January 2.6
2023 February 3.1
2023 March 4.3
2023 April -1.2
2023 May -0.9
2023 June 1.3
2023 July -0.4
2023 August -1.5
2023 September -3.8
2023 October -4
2023 November -3.7
2023 December -0.5
2024 January -4.2
2024 February -1.9
2024 March -5.1
2024 April -3.4
2024 May -3.0

 

Contraction in two-thirds of industrial sectors

Two-thirds of all industrial sectors produced less than they did one year previously. Among the eight larger industrial sectors, output fell the most sharply in the repair and installation of machinery. The electronic products and electric equipment industry achieved the highest rise in output.

 

Output manufacturing (calendar adjusted, volume) by sector, May 2024
Category change (year-on-year % change)
Electrical and electronics 9.1
Chemical 1.3
Metal products 0
Food products -1.9
Rubber and plastic products -4
Machinery -7.1
Transport equipment -13
Repair and installation of machinery -26.5
Manufacturing (total) -3
Altogether, the industries referred to in the above graph account for almost 80 percent of the total manufacturing output

Output decreased in May

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. When these adjustments are made, manufacturing output fell by 0.4 percent in May relative to April.

Adjusted 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.

Output manufacturing (seasonally and calendar adjusted, volume)
year month index (2021=100)
2020 June 88.1
2020 July 92.2
2020 August 94.4
2020 September 93.8
2020 October 94.8
2020 November 94.6
2020 December 93.6
2021 January 97.6
2021 February 94.4
2021 March 96.6
2021 April 97.5
2021 May 98.2
2021 June 100
2021 July 100.3
2021 August 99.7
2021 September 100.9
2021 October 102.5
2021 November 104
2021 December 104.9
2022 January 104.9
2022 February 104.4
2022 March 105.1
2022 April 109.6
2022 May 108.4
2022 June 108.8
2022 July 108
2022 August 107.8
2022 September 108.9
2022 October 108.2
2022 November 107.8
2022 December 108.5
2023 January 108.1
2023 February 107.5
2023 March 109.7
2023 April 108.2
2023 May 107.4
2023 June 109.8
2023 July 107.4
2023 August 106.2
2023 September 104.9
2023 October 103.9
2023 November 104.2
2023 December 107.7
2024 January 103.9
2024 February 105.4
2024 March 103.9
2024 April 104.4
2024 May 104.0

 

Confidence among manufacturers continues to improve

Dutch manufacturers were less negative in June than they were in May. They were more positive about expected output and less negative about current stock levels, in particular.

Germany is an important market for the Dutch manufacturing industry. In June, German business owners were slightly less negative than they were in May. In May, the calendar-adjusted output generated by the German manufacturing industry was down by 7 percent year on year. Relative to April, output fell by 2.9 percent, as reported by Destatis.

Source: Statistics Netherlands
Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither Karen Audit nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.