Dutch Manufacturing Growth Strongest In 6 Months

(RTTNews) - Dutch manufacturing activity expanded at the quickest pace in six months despite rising inflationary pressures amid supply chain disruptions caused by the Middle East crisis, survey data from S&P Global showed on Wednesday.

The headline Nevi Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 52.0 in March from 50.8 in February. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

New orders grew for the first time in three months, partly linked to firms' responses to supply chain uncertainty caused by the Middle East war. Consequently, manufacturers raised their output volumes at the quickest pace in four months.

Input deliveries were delayed, particularly those coming from Asia. These supply chain disruptions caused the intensification of cost pressures, with the rate of input price inflation rising to a 41-month high amid higher costs for metals, plastic, fuel, energy, and wages. As a result, selling price inflation accelerated to the strongest in over three years.

Elsewhere, confidence was knocked back below trend as firms reported the first round of job losses in four months, the survey said.