Producers in the Netherlands are anticipating a 15 percent increase in investments in 2023 compared to the previous year. Refineries and the chemical industry, in particular, have positive investment expectations, while producers in the textile industry expect a decrease in investments. Nearly 20 percent of the projected investments will be allocated towards sustainability and energy-saving measures. This information was reported by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) based on the spring survey of investment expectations among companies with 10 or more employees in the industry.
The data for this research was collected from mid-January to mid-May 2023. It includes investments in tangible fixed assets that will be put into use this year, such as buildings, machinery, vehicles, and computers. The expected increase in investments in 2023 is partly due to investments that were initially planned for 2022 but postponed until 2023.
Refineries and the chemical industry anticipate a significant increase in investments in 2023, with a projected growth of 30 percent compared to 2022. Producers in the metal industry expect to invest more than one-sixth extra in 2023. However, there are also sectors where a decrease in investments is expected for 2023. Producers in the textile industry, for example, anticipate a 23 percent decrease in investments compared to the previous year. Entrepreneurs in the paper and graphic industry, as well as the transport equipment industry, also hold a negative outlook for 2023.
Nearly one-fifth of the expected investments are related to greening initiatives. Industrial producers allocate 4 percent of the total investment amount in 2023 towards circular production, including the reuse of raw materials and waste, and 8 percent towards energy-saving measures. This includes insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels. Producers indicate that approximately 7 percent of the expected investments are aimed at reducing emissions, with the chemical industry leading at 15 percent.
Realized investments in the industry show an upward trend. Entrepreneurs in the textile industry reported a 38 percent increase in investments in 2022 compared to 2021. Across the entire industry, the realized investment growth was 13 percent. After a dip in investments in the year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2021), the industry has rebounded. Only the wood and building materials industry invested less in 2022 than the previous year. Investment expectations in the industry often deviate by a few percentage points from the actual investments, partly due to delays or postponements in planned investments.