October metalworking machinery orders surge 40% YoY
By Kristin Bartschi
New orders of metalworking machinery totaled $538.9 million in October, a 9% increase from September and a 40.3% increase from October 2024, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
Machinery orders tracked by USMTO through October 2025 totaled $4.47 billion, a 19.7% increase over the first 10 months of 2024.
Both the value and the number of units ordered in October were the highest since March 2023. It was the third month in 2025 to surpass $500 million in new machinery orders – the most since 2021, when six months saw investments above $500 million. Despite widespread fears about the economy, manufacturers continue to invest in metalworking machinery due to renewed tax incentives and sustained demand for manufactured goods from both consumers and government entities.
October orders from contract machine shops, the largest customer of manufacturing technology, were the largest since March 2023. Despite the high dollar value, the number of units ordered was the same as in September 2024 – but with a 13.2% lower order value. The trend of expanding average order values in this industry underscores the increased demand for automation at all levels of the supply chain.
October saw the highest order value from aerospace manufacturers since March 2025. This investment comes one month before the end of the government shutdown, which saw a significant number of Pentagon contract announcements, as well as the end of the Boeing defense workers’ strike. These developments could foreshadow additional orders before the end of the year, given the sector’s rising capacity constraints.
Manufacturers of engines, turbines, and other power transmission equipment also increased orders significantly in October, reaching their highest value since February 2023 and the highest number of units since March 2022. Continued demand for electricity from data centers is prompting additional investment in new generation capacity and extending the life of some coal-fired plants that were slated for decommission.
While numerous experts have predicted a mild industrial downturn in 2026, opportunities remain for manufacturing technology providers in sectors that have been outperforming the overall economy.
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