US Manufacturing Technology Orders Rise in August 2025

New orders for metalworking machinery in the U.S. totaled $529.4 million in August 2025, according to the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report (USMTO) published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This figure represents a 36.2% increase from July 2025 and a nearly 45% rise compared to August 2024. Total machinery orders through August 2025 reached $3.44 billion, an 18.3% increase over the first eight months of 2024. Since January 1998, only 29 months have recorded orders exceeding $500 million, with approximately 44.8% of these occurring since June 2021. This data highlights the strength observed in the manufacturing sector following the 2020 COVID recession, despite ongoing economic uncertainties. Sector-Specific Insights Orders from contract machine shops, which represent the largest customer segment for manufacturing technology, registered their highest value since March 2023. However, the number of units ordered did not surpass levels seen as recently as March of this year. Consequently, the average order value for job shop orders, often used as an indicator of automation or complexity levels, reached its highest point since August 2011. Orders from aerospace manufacturers saw a 20% decline from July 2025. This decrease may be partially attributed to a recent strike involving Boeing machinists, differing from trends observed in previous aerospace sector strikes. Despite the monthly drop, the overall value of orders placed remained 23% above the average monthly order value recorded since January 2021. Manufacturers of construction machinery placed their largest orders for manufacturing technology since September 2012. While construction spending on manufacturing facilities has receded from its 2024 peaks, it remains at an elevated level. Additionally, industries correlated with construction activity, such as manufacturers of ventilation, heating, air conditioning, and commercial refrigeration equipment, saw their orders increase in August 2025 by nearly 50% above their average monthly order value. Outlook and Potential Headwinds Despite the resilience shown in machinery orders through August, several sources of uncertainty could affect further investment during the remainder of the year. The article notes that some infrastructure projects were paused following a federal government shutdown that began on October 1. Manufacturers relying on government-funded projects may delay machinery investments until project reliability is re-established. Furthermore, the recent inclusion of manufacturing technology in a schedule of products subject to tariffs could potentially hinder additional investment in technology necessary for expanding and improving the American industrial base.