Turnover in the Dutch manufacturing industry was again down in the quarter under review compared to the same period last year. From April to June, turnover was 4.9 percent down on one year previously. It was the second quarter in a row that manufacturing turnover shrank. In the first three months of this year, the sector had to cope with declining turnover for the first time in two years.

Refineries and chemical companies in particular received less money. Petroleum producers realised 9.5 percent less turnover last quarter compared to a year earlier. Chemical producers saw their turnover decrease by 4.5 percent. Turnover also decreased in the textile industry and the metal products sector, among others.

The declining turnover is mainly due to staff shortages. There are almost 24,000 vacancies in the industry, the highest number in eleven years according to CBS.
According to one in five companies, staff shortages hamper their production.
Despite declining turnover in industry, the Dutch economy continued to grow. This is because other sectors, such as the construction industry and the food industry, continued to grow.
Analysts predict that overall growth is unlikely to continue in the coming quarters.

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