FX.co ★ Dutch Producers More Pessimistic In March

Manufacturers in the Netherlands continued to have low confidence in March, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.

The producer sentiment index, a key indicator of manufacturers' outlook, increased marginally to -4.8 in March compared to -4.2 in February. However, it remained well below the long-term average of -1.3, indicating pervasive negative sentiment.

The data revealed that manufacturers held a less optimistic view of future activity and were more pessimistic about their existing stock levels. On the other hand, negativity reduced slightly concerning the order position.

The weakest producer confidence in March was reported in the wood and building materials industry. In contrast, the paper and printing industry exhibited the highest confidence level among the manufacturers.