May cutting tool consumption up from last year
May 2022 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $175.4 million, down 0.6 percent from April’s $176.5 million and up 9.1 percent when compared with the $160.7 million reported for May 2021.
With a year-to-date total of $875.8 million, 2022 is also up 9.1 percent when compared to the same time period in 2021, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
“The May numbers are very similar to April and seem to send the same message: that manufacturing continues to struggle with the issues of inflation, the supply chain disruptions, and the shortage of human resources,” said Brad Lawton, chairman of AMT’s Cutting Tool Product Group. “Again, to sum it up with an overused word, ‘uncertainty’ will remain with us for an extended period of time.”
Pat McGibbon, AMT’s chief knowledge officer, has a more positive outlook on the industry, saying, “Leading indicators point to a bright finish for the cutting tool market this year after the sector’s seasonal softening in July and August. Manufacturing capacity utilization remains over 80%, and the Institute for Supply Management’s PMI index is at 53; both of which signal continued expansion in the manufacturing sector. Growing backlogs and delivery rates of manufacturing technology equipment will yield a significant expansion in manufacturing capacity. This surge in production capacity will support continued growth in cutting tool shipments through early 2023.”
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The March/April issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Joyce Lansdale and Vallen. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and David Kahle, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
