Dutch Manufacturing Output Lowest in Over a Year

Manufacturing production in the Netherlands rose 2.8% month-on-month in March 2026, rebounding from a 1.3% drop in February. This marked the strongest growth since December 2023. Overall industrial production also increased by 2.8% from a month earlier. Compared with the same period last year, output grew 1.7%, with half of all industrial business categories recording higher production. Among the eight major sectors, the machinery industry posted the strongest growth, while the electrical and electronics sector recorded the steepest decline.

Manufacturing production in the Netherlands fell 1.3% month-on-month in February 2026, following a 0.4% rise in January, marking the lowest reading since September 2024. Output declined for food (-2.8% vs 4.9% in January), wood (-6.4% vs 4.3%), paper (-4% vs 8%), pharmaceuticals (-8.4% vs 17%), and metal products (-2.6% vs 0.2%). At the same time, output growth slowed for electrical appliances (1% vs 5.3%), machine (0.4% vs 2.9%), and graphic (6.4% vs 7.3%). On the other hand, activity recovered for basic metals (7.6% vs -13.8%) and textiles (0.6% vs -0.8%). On an annual basis, manufacturing output dropped 0.7% from a 1.1% growth in the previous month.

Manufacturing production in the Netherlands rose 0.4% month-on-month in January 2026, following a downwardly revised 0.3% rise in the previous month. This marked the highest reading since August 2025, as output recovered for food (5.3% vs -3.3% in December 2025), leather and shoes (6.8% vs -8.3%), wood (4.1% vs -1%), paper (6.5% vs -4.6%), furniture (4.9% vs -4.1%), and pharmaceuticals (23.8% vs -18.5%). At the same time, activity declined at a softer pace for textiles (-1.1% vs -1.8%) and chemicals (-1.8% vs -4.6%). Meanwhile, output contracted for petroleum (-4.5% vs 2.4%), rubbers and plastics (-1.5% vs 0.5%), machinery (-4.1% vs 9.1%), and basic metals (-14% vs 12.8%). On an annual basis, manufacturing output grew by 1.1% in January, easing from an upwardly revised 1.4% in the preceding period.