New orders for metalworking machinery in the United States reached $437.9 million in November 2025, according to the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) Report published by the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT). The figure marked a 19.6% decline compared with October 2025, while remaining almost flat year over year, coming in just over $2 million above November 2024 levels.
Despite the monthly slowdown, overall demand remained robust. Cumulative machinery orders from January through November 2025 totaled $4.92 billion, representing a 17.8% increase compared with the same period in 2024. This performance underscores the resilience of the manufacturing technology market even as short-term fluctuations persist.
Historically, the final months of the year see heightened machinery investment as manufacturers aim to fully utilize capital expenditure budgets and benefit from tax incentives. November 2025 followed this pattern, extending the elevated ordering activity that began in August. Orders for the month stood nearly 26% above the historical November average, and aside from October, November contributed to the strongest three-month cumulative order value since May 2022.
Although most customer industries recorded lower order values during the month, several segments showed notable strength. Primary metal producers posted a sharp rebound after three consecutive months of decline, supported by increased steel and aluminum production in North America—one of the few regions globally to expand output through 2025. Industrial machinery manufacturers, along with companies focused on molds, metalworking machinery, and specialty tools and dies, also reported higher order activity. Meanwhile, contract machine shops and aerospace manufacturers experienced only modest declines, outperforming the broader market.
Industry analysts suggest that these late-year capacity investments could be an early indicator of renewed manufacturing momentum in 2026. Even without December data, year-to-date orders are already nearly 5% higher than total orders for all of 2024, pointing to sustained underlying demand.
Looking ahead, factors such as tax incentives and more favorable financial conditions could further support investment in manufacturing technology. However, analysts caution that geopolitical tensions and rising global uncertainty remain key risks that could temper capital spending plans. For now, the metalworking machinery market appears well positioned, balancing short-term volatility with a solid medium-term outlook.
