The Netherlands, explained in English · Wednesday 11 November 2026Wed 11 Nov

Economy

Dutch machine makers drive 11.1% rise in industrial output

Calendar-adjusted production in September was 11.1% above a year earlier, driven by machine makers, while producer confidence slipped in October, Statistics Netherlands says.

Industrial area on the waterfront in Wormerveer
iIllustrative photo: Michielverbeek / CC BY-SA 4.0

Calendar-adjusted production by Dutch industry in September was 11.1% higher than in September 2025, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported. Output grew in five of the eight largest industry branches.

Growth has picked up this year. Production was 1.0% above the year before in January and 1.0% below in February. It then rose 5.7% in April, 7.0% in May, 5.0% in June, 9.4% in July and 11.7% in August. A year ago, in September 2025, the increase was 1.2%.

Machine industry output drives the rise

% change on a year earlier, September 2026

Machines+43.1Metal products+2.4Food+0.6Transport equipment+0.5Chemicals+0.3Rubber and plastics−1.9Electrical and electronic equipment−2.5Machine repair and installation−4.3Industry total+11.1

Machine industry output drives the rise (% change on a year earlier, September 2026). Highest: Machines, 43.1; lowest: Machine repair and installation, -4.3; 9 items. Source: CBS.

View data
Data: Machine industry output drives the rise
Item% change on a year earlier, September 2026
Machines43.1
Metal products2.4
Food0.6
Transport equipment0.5
Chemicals0.3
Rubber and plastics-1.9
Electrical and electronic equipment-2.5
Machine repair and installation-4.3
Industry total11.1
Source: CBS | NLnow graphic

Machine industry output was 43.1% higher than a year earlier. Three branches produced less: rubber and plastics, electrical and electronic equipment, and machine repair and installation. The eight branches together make up almost 80% of industrial production.

Industrial output growth has accelerated since the spring

% change on a year earlier · Jan 2025–Sep 2026

−50+5+10+15Jan 2025: +0.3Feb 2025: −0.5Mar 2025: +1Apr 2025: −0.5May 2025: +0.1Jun 2025: 0Jul 2025: −1.3Aug 2025: −0.3Sep 2025: +1.2Oct 2025: +0.7Nov 2025: −0.2Dec 2025: −0.6Jan 2026: +1Feb 2026: −1Mar 2026: +1.9Apr 2026: +5.7May 2026: +7Jun 2026: +5Jul 2026: +9.4Aug 2026: +11.7Sep 2026: +11.1+11.7−1.3Jan 2025May 2025Sep 2025Jan 2026May 2026Sep 2026+11.1

Industrial output growth has accelerated since the spring (% change on a year earlier). From 0.3 in Jan 2025 to 11.1 in Sep 2026; highest 11.7 in Aug 2026, lowest -1.3 in Jul 2025. Source: CBS.

View data
Data: Industrial output growth has accelerated since the spring
Item% change on a year earlier
Jan 20250.3
Feb 2025-0.5
Mar 20251
Apr 2025-0.5
May 20250.1
Jun 20250
Jul 2025-1.3
Aug 2025-0.3
Sep 20251.2
Oct 20250.7
Nov 2025-0.2
Dec 2025-0.6
Jan 20261
Feb 2026-1
Mar 20261.9
Apr 20265.7
May 20267
Jun 20265
Jul 20269.4
Aug 202611.7
Sep 202611.1
Source: CBS | NLnow graphic

Producer confidence slips

Producer confidence fell in October but stayed above its twenty-year average of -1.4. The index stood at 2.3, down from 4.2 in September. In October 2025 it was -1.1.

Confidence declined in seven of the nine sectors measured. Only transport equipment and "other manufacturing" saw it rise. Producers in the electrical and electronics industry, which includes machine making, were again the most positive, at 8.0.

The index peaked at 10.5 in October 2021 and was lowest at -31.5 in April 2020.

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