US metal processing machine orders hit record highs in March

Summary According to the latest statistics, in the first quarter of 2014, the U.S. metalworking machine orders reached 6,247 units, valued at $1.228 billion, representing a slight year-on-year increase of 0.9%. Among these, Japanese machine tools accounted for 56.808 billion yen, approximately $556 million, making Japan the leading supplier of machine tools to the U.S. market. Additionally, imports from Taiwan totaled around $87.64 million. Regionally, the Midwest and Northeast regions saw the highest order values, with the Northeast alone reporting $210 million in orders for metal-cutting machines—an impressive 23.6% rise compared to the same period the previous year. The total orders in the Northeast reached $370 million, up 4.8% year-on-year. Other regions, including the West, South Central, Northwest, and Southeast, also reported steady activity, though at lower levels than the Northeast. Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT, noted that the U.S. PMI index, durable goods orders, and car sales all showed strong performance, reinforcing the manufacturing sector's role as a key driver of economic growth. March 2014 marked a record high in machine tool orders, surpassing the previous peak set during the IMTS exhibition month in September 2012. This surge was partly attributed to delayed orders caused by harsh winter conditions. With the upcoming IMTS 2014 trade show, industry experts expect continued strong growth in U.S. machine tool orders through the next few months, potentially extending into 2015.