U.S. Metalworking Machinery Orders Jump 40% Year-over-Year in October, Signaling Strong Manufacturing Confidence!
U.S. demand for metalworking machinery recorded a sharp upswing in October 2025, highlighting continued investment momentum across the manufacturing sector despite ongoing concerns about economic uncertainty. According to the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) Report published by AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology, new orders for metalworking machinery totaled $538.9 million in October. This represents a 9% increase over September 2025 and a substantial 40.3% rise compared to October 2024, making it one of the strongest monthly performances in recent years.
Cumulatively, machinery orders tracked by USMTO from January through October 2025 reached $4.47 billion, reflecting a 19.7% increase over the same ten-month period in 2024. Both the total value of orders and the number of units purchased in October were the highest recorded since March 2023, reinforcing signs of a broad-based recovery in manufacturing capital expenditure. Notably, October became the third month in 2025 to exceed $500 million in new machinery orders—the most such occurrences since 2021, when manufacturers surpassed that threshold in six separate months.
This strong performance comes despite lingering fears of a broader economic slowdown. Industry analysts point to a combination of renewed tax incentives, sustained consumer demand, and ongoing government spending as key factors encouraging manufacturers to continue investing in advanced production equipment. These investments reflect a strategic focus on productivity, resilience, and long-term competitiveness rather than short-term caution.
Contract machine shops, traditionally the largest buyers of manufacturing technology, played a major role in October’s results. Orders from this segment reached their highest level since March 2023. While the total dollar value of orders was high, the number of units purchased matched levels seen in September 2024, though at a 13.2% lower order value. This divergence highlights a clear trend toward higher-value, more sophisticated machinery—often equipped with advanced automation and digital capabilities—underscoring the growing importance of automation throughout the supply chain.
The aerospace sector also demonstrated renewed strength, posting its highest machinery order value since March 2025. This surge followed a period marked by significant Pentagon contract announcements and coincided with the resolution of the Boeing defense workers’ strike. With aerospace manufacturers facing increasing capacity constraints, these developments could signal further machinery investments before the end of the year.
Manufacturers of engines, turbines, and other power transmission equipment also significantly increased orders in October. The sector recorded its highest order value since February 2023 and the largest number of units ordered since March 2022. Much of this growth is being driven by surging electricity demand from data centers, prompting fresh investments in power generation infrastructure and extending the operational life of some coal-fired plants previously slated for shutdown.
While some experts continue to forecast a mild industrial downturn in 2026, the October data suggests that opportunities remain strong for manufacturing technology providers. Sectors such as aerospace, energy, and automated machining—currently outperforming the broader economy—are likely to sustain demand for advanced metalworking machinery in the near to medium term.
