Dutch business confidence for Q3 2025 less negative

The increase in business confidence is mainly because businesses are less negative regarding the economic environment; when it comes to the economic outlook, they are almost as negative as they were in Q2 2025. Business confidence is now very close to the average (minus 3.7) for the series since 2012.

Dutch business confidence for Q3 2025 rose to minus 3.8, as businesses are less negative regarding the economic environment; they are almost as negative as they were in Q2 2025 about the economic outlook, a survey revealed.
Confidence rose in eight industrial sectors and fell in four.
In manufacturing, businesses with a positive outlook were around the same in number as those with a negative outlook.

Business confidence rose in eight industrial sectors and fell in four, a CBS release said.

There was a particular increase in confidence in the transportation and storage sector (from minus 12 to minus 0.9) and the wholesale trade & commission sector. Confidence also fell in real estate activities and the retail sector, but remained at around the same level as in Q2.

Even so, companies are slightly more likely to perceive obstacles in 2025, and opinions on investment are divided.

The survey was conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK), the EIB, the Dutch Organisation for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MKB-Nederland) and the Dutch Employers’ Organisation (VNO-NCW).

Businesses still cited labour shortages the most often as the main obstacle to their business operations. The share of companies mentioning labour shortages fell in both of the two most recent quarters, but has now risen to 36 per cent at the start of Q3 2025. This is slightly higher than the share of companies who say they are experiencing no obstacles.

One in five businesses perceive weak demand as their main obstacle; for over 10 per cent, financial constraints are the main concern. The picture was broadly similar in the previous quarter. Fewer businesses see a shortage of production resources as the main obstacle.

Almost as many businesses expect to invest more this year as expect to invest less. On balance, then, investment expectations are around the same as a year ago. Seven out of the 12 industrial sectors expect to invest more, on balance.

Businesses in the real estate activities sector are the most positive regarding investment this year. On balance, 17 per cent of them expect to invest more. Last year, the share was almost 25 per cent.

Compared to 2024, investment expectations improved by the most in the transportation and storage sector, with a net increase from 3 per cent to 12 per cent.

In the manufacturing sector, businesses with a positive outlook were around the same in number as those with a negative outlook.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)