Consistent Manufacturing Costs Remain Near Identical

The Dutch national statistical agency, Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS), has released the latest figures for the Index of Producer Prices (IPP) for various months in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

In June 2025, manufacturing output prices remained virtually unchanged compared to June 2024. However, a closer look at the sectors reveals a more nuanced picture.

The prices for food products, cars, metal products, and machinery all saw an increase in June 2025. Food products rose by 4.1%, cars and metal products increased by 4.1% each, and machinery prices went up by 1.3%. On the other hand, electronic products saw a slight decrease of 0.3%, while rubber and plastic remained the same.

The most significant changes were observed in the chemical and petroleum sectors. Chemical product prices decreased by 2.5% year on year, and petroleum product prices dropped by a substantial 12.9% and 15.8% in June and July 2025, respectively.

Year-on-year, prices for petroleum derivatives were down by 15.8% in July, and 12.9% in June. This decrease is likely due to the average price of a barrel of North Sea Brent crude in July 2025, which was over 59 euros, representing a 23.3% decrease from July 2024. In June 2025, a barrel of crude cost nearly 61 euros, representing a 21.2% decrease from June 2024.

The IPP data also shows that prices on the export market rose by 0.1 percent, while prices on the domestic market remained the same.

Looking back at previous years, the IPP for August 2024 was 119.1, and it decreased to 118.3 in September 2024. The IPP for January 2022 was 109.9, and it peaked at 121.5 in February 2023 before dipping to 105.6 in November 2021 and 102.3 in September 2021.

The eight industries referred to in the IPP account for almost 75% of the total Dutch manufacturing industry.

The IPP for various months in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 provides valuable insights into the Dutch manufacturing sector's performance and trends over the past few years. The data shows a mixed picture with some sectors experiencing growth while others are facing challenges. The ongoing monitoring of these trends will help businesses and policymakers make informed decisions to support the Dutch manufacturing industry.