US metal processing machine orders hit record highs in March

Summary According to recent statistics, the U.S. metalworking machine orders in the first quarter of 2014 totaled 6,247 units, valued at $1.228 billion—an increase of 0.9% compared to the same period in the previous year. Notably, Japanese machine tools accounted for a significant share, with imports reaching 56.808 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $556 million. Japan remains the largest supplier of machine tools to the U.S., highlighting its strong position in the market. In addition, Taiwan contributed about $87.64 million in machine tool imports during the same period. Regionally, the Midwest and Northeast regions saw the highest order volumes, with the Midwest reporting $370 million in orders—a 4.8% year-on-year increase. The Northeast region specifically recorded $210 million in orders for metal-cutting machines, reflecting a substantial 23.6% growth compared to the previous year. Other regions, including the West, South Central, Northwest, and Southeast, also showed steady activity, though at lower levels than the top-performing areas. Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT, commented that current economic indicators such as the U.S. PMI, durable goods orders, and auto sales are all positive, signaling continued strength in the manufacturing sector. He pointed out that March 2014 saw a record-high number of orders, surpassing the previous peak set during the IMTS exhibition month in September 2012. The surge in March was partly attributed to delayed orders caused by harsh winter conditions. With the upcoming IMTS2014 event, industry experts expect U.S. machine tool orders to maintain a strong upward trend over the next few months, potentially extending into 2015. This outlook suggests a robust recovery and sustained demand in the U.S. manufacturing sector.