Dutch Business Mood Steady in April

Business confidence in the manufacturing sector in the Netherlands stood at -0.7 in April 2026, unchanged from the previous month. Order position assessments inched up to -7.1 from -7.2, while sentiment regarding stock levels improved to -3.3 from -4.9 in March. Meanwhile, expected activity declined to 8.4 from 10.1, indicating weaker optimism about near-term production. By sector, sentiment improved in food and beverage (-1.9 vs -4.5), textile, clothing, and leather (-7.9 vs -11.1), paper and graphic products (-4.9 vs -7.6), and refineries and chemicals (-1.6 vs -5.2). On the other hand, these gains were offset as the outlook turned pessimistic in base metals and metal products (-0.8 vs 1.7) and other industry and repair (-1.4 vs 1.3). Sentiment also weakened in transport equipment (1.5 vs 2.7) and electrical engineering and machinery (2.7 vs 4.6).

Business confidence in the Netherlands’ manufacturing sector fell to -0.7 in March 2026, easing from -1.1 in the previous month. Expected activity rose to 10.1 from 7.0, indicating optimism about near-term production. In contrast, order position assessments weakened to -7.2 from -6.5, and stock judgments declined to -4.9 from -3.9 in February. By sector, outlook improved in refineries and chemicals (-5.2 vs -5.5), while the base metal and metal products industry (1.7 vs -5.5) and transport equipment (2.7 vs -1.3) moved into positive territory. On the other hand, sentiment weakened further in the textile, clothing, and leather industry (-11.1 vs 7.0), food and beverages (-4.5 vs 3.5), and paper and graphic industry (-7.6 vs -4.2). Outlook also became less optimistic in electrical engineering and machinery (4.6 vs 5.9) and other industry and repair (1.3 vs 1.6).

Business confidence in Dutch industry fell to -1.1 in February 2026, returning to pessimism after a brief positive reading of 0.8 in January. Expected activity weakened to 7.0 from 12.7, while order position assessments deteriorated to -6.5 from -5.4. Stock judgments improved slightly to -3.9 from -4.8, indicating somewhat lower inventory pressure. By sector, confidence remained negative in several industries, including food and beverages (-3.5 vs 0.6), paper and graphic industries, refineries and chemistry, and basic metals, which saw a sharp deterioration (-5.5 vs 0.1). The textile, clothing, and leather sector also stayed in negative territory but improved (-7.0 vs -10.4), while transportation equipment slipped into contraction (-1.3 vs 0.0). Meanwhile, confidence was positive in wood and building materials (1.1 vs -1.1), as well as in electrical engineering and machinery(5.9 vs 5.3). Other industry and repair also remained positive, though sentiment eased to 1.6 from 6.0.