Producer confidence declines further in May

Producer confidence in May 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 positive about expected output

Manufacturers’ assessment of the expected output for the next three months was less positive than it was in April. They were also more negative about current stocks of finished products. However, producers were less negative about their order positions.

One component indicator of producer confidence was positive: manufacturers who anticipated an increase in output over the next three months outnumbered those expecting a decrease. However, two other 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 all industrial sectors

Confidence was negative in all industrial sectors. Manufacturers in the petroleum and chemical industry were the most negative, while manufacturers in the timber and building materials industry were the least negative.

Manufacturing output up by over 1 percent in March

In March, the calendar-adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing sector was 1.3 percent higher than it was in March 2024. This marks the third consecutive rise in production after a year and a half of decreasing production. Manufacturing output fell by 0.6 percent relative to February, after adjusting for seasonal- and calendar effects.