U.S. Metalworking Machinery Orders Show Year-Over-Year Growth Through November 2025
New orders for metalworking machinery in the United States totaled $437.9 million in November 2025, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
The November total represented a 19.6% decline from October 2025 but was nearly level with November 2024 orders, differing by just over $2 million. Despite the month-over-month decrease, cumulative machinery orders tracked by USMTO reached $4.92 billion through November 2025, marking a 17.8% increase compared with the first 11 months of 2024.
End-of-year machinery orders typically rise as manufacturers work to utilize remaining capital equipment budgets and capture potential tax advantages. November 2025 followed this seasonal pattern while continuing the elevated order activity that began in August. Orders for the month were nearly 26% above the typical November level, and—with the exception of October—represented the largest three-month cumulative order value since May 2022.
Although most customer industries recorded declines in November, several sectors showed relative strength. Contract machine shops and aerospace manufacturers experienced only modest decreases compared with the overall market. Primary metal manufacturers posted a notable increase in machinery orders, reversing a three-month decline. This shift aligns with continued growth in steel and aluminum production in North America, one of the few regions to show increased output through 2025.
Additional gains were reported among manufacturers of industrial machinery, molds, metalworking equipment, and specialty tools and dies. These late-year capacity investments may indicate increased manufacturing activity heading into 2026.
Despite the November decline, the metalworking machinery market remains comparatively stable. Even without December data, year-to-date orders through November are nearly 5% higher than total orders recorded in all of 2024. While tax incentives and improving financial conditions could support further investment in manufacturing technology, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty may affect future order activity.
The final assessment of 2025 machinery orders will become clearer with the release of December data. Industry stakeholders are also expected to review updated economic and market insights at the 2026 AMT Winter Economic Forum, scheduled for January 30.
