The Nevi Netherlands Manufacturing PMI edged up to 50.8 in February 2026 from 50.1 in January, when it had fallen to an eight‑month low. This marked a ninth consecutive month of expansion. Growth was supported by output rising to a three‑month high, even as total new orders declined for a second month in a row and export sales registered their sharpest fall in nearly a year.
Employment in the sector increased for the third consecutive month, but job creation remained modest and was the weakest so far in the current growth phase. At the same time, operating costs rose sharply to near a one‑year high, driven by higher raw material prices and wage pressures.
In response, manufacturers raised their output prices, which climbed to an eleven‑month peak as firms passed on at least part of their higher costs to customers. Despite these pressures, Dutch manufacturers stayed positive about the outlook for the coming year, with confidence supported by expectations of stronger order pipelines, upcoming product launches, and intensified marketing efforts.
