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). source: Statistics Netherlands

Business Confidence in Netherlands increased to -0.70 points in March from -1.10 points in February of 2026. Business Confidence in Netherlands averaged -1.76 points from 1985 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 10.50 points in October of 2021 and a record low of -31.50 points in April of 2020. This page provides - Netherlands Business Confidence - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Netherlands Business Confidence - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Business Confidence in Netherlands increased to -0.70 points in March from -1.10 points in February of 2026. Business Confidence in Netherlands is expected to be -3.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Netherlands Business Confidence is projected to trend around 1.00 points in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-27 05:30 AM
Business Confidence
Feb -1.1 0.8 1
2026-03-30 04:30 AM
Business Confidence
Mar -0.7 -1.1 -3
2026-05-01 04:30 AM
Business Confidence
Apr -0.7


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 325.00 288.00 Companies Feb 2026
Business Confidence -0.70 -1.10 points Mar 2026
Capacity Utilization 78.30 77.10 percent Mar 2026
Changes in Inventories -1031.00 -26.00 EUR Million Dec 2025
Industrial Production 2.10 3.10 percent Jan 2026
Industrial Production Mom 0.10 0.50 percent Jan 2026
Manufacturing Production YoY 1.10 1.40 percent Jan 2026
Manufacturing Production MoM 0.40 0.30 percent Jan 2026
Mining Production 20.60 15.80 percent Jan 2026


Netherlands Business Confidence
In Netherlands, the producer confidence survey covers 1,700 manufacturing companies and gathers up-to-date information on economic developments for all activities of the manufacturing industry. The survey covers three components: how companies evaluate their order positions, their stocks of finished products in the month under review and the anticipated economic activity for the next three months. The index is calculated as the percentage of positive answers minus the percentage of negative answers. Therefore, the indicator varies from -100 (all participants evaluate their situation as poor and expect it to become worse) to 100 (all companies are happy with current situation and expect it to improve); 0 indicates neutrality.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-0.70 -1.10 10.50 -31.50 1985 - 2026 points Monthly

News Stream
Dutch Business Confidence Improves in March
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).
2026-03-30
Dutch Business Confidence Turns Negative Again
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.
2026-02-27
Dutch Business Confidence Turns Positive
Business confidence in the Netherlands’ manufacturing sector rose to 0.8 in January 2026, turning positive for the first time since March 2023, from -1.1 in December. Expectations for business activity strengthened, with expected production rising to 12.7 from 9.6. Sentiment toward order books also improved, as assessments became less negative at -5.4 compared with -6.0 previously, while pessimism over finished goods inventories eased further to -4.8 from -6.9. At the sector level, producers in other industries and repair were the most positive in January, followed by electrical engineering and machinery and transportation equipment, where confidence either improved sharply or remained resilient. Sentiment also strengthened in basic metals and metal products, supported by a firmer activity outlook and improved order positions. By contrast, confidence remained weakest in the textile, clothing and leather sector.
2026-01-29