U.S. Metalworking Machinery Orders Surge 40% in October According to USMTO Report
New orders for U.S. metalworking machinery reached a significant total of $538.9 million in October 2025, according to the latest industry data.
The figures, released in the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report (USMTO) published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, indicate a substantial 40.3% increase compared to October 2024. The October total also represents a 9% increase over the preceding month of September 2025.
According to the report, both the number of units ordered and the total dollar value in October were the highest recorded since March 2023.
Year-to-Date Growth and Investment Drivers
The overall market for manufacturing technology orders continues to show year-over-year growth. Machinery orders tracked by USMTO through the first 10 months of 2025 totaled $4.47 billion, marking a 19.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
October became the third month in 2025 to surpass the $500 million benchmark in new orders. The report suggests that manufacturers are continuing to invest in metalworking machinery, driven by factors such as sustained demand for goods from both consumers and government entities, alongside renewed tax incentives.
Key Sector Performance
The USMTO report highlighted specific industry sectors contributing to October's surge.
Contract Machine Shops: The largest customer base for manufacturing technology, contract machine shops, placed their highest order values since March 2023. The data indicates a trend toward expanding average order values in this sector, which AMT suggests underscores increased demand for automation across the supply chain.
Aerospace: October saw the highest order value from aerospace manufacturers since March 2025. These investments occurred shortly before the conclusion of the government shutdown—which involved numerous Pentagon contract announcements—and the end of the Boeing defense workers’ strike.
Power Transmission Equipment: Manufacturers of turbines, engines, and other power transmission equipment significantly increased orders. The sector reached its highest value since February 2023 and highest unit count since March 2022. The report attributes this activity to continued electricity demand from data centers, prompting investment in new generation capacity and life-extensions for certain existing power plants.
While some industry experts anticipate a mild industrial downturn in 2026, the current data indicates that specific manufacturing sectors continue to expand capacity and outperform the broader economy.
About the USMTO Report: The U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report, published by AMT, provides a primary economic indicator of the health of the manufacturing sector by tracking new orders of metalworking machinery.
