Momentum of Late-2025 Machinery Demand Carries Into the First 2 Months of 2026

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McLean, Va. (April 13, 2026) - New orders of metalworking machinery, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology, totaled $488.9 million in February 2026. The value of manufacturing technology orders increased 10.7% over January 2026 and 27.4% over February 2025. The total value of 2026 orders through February has reached $930.5 million, 26% above the first two months of 2025.

Demand for manufacturing technology entered a period of recovery in the last quarter of 2024 after nearly three consecutive years of decline. However, while order values expanded, the total number of units increased at a far slower pace. This divergence between value and unit trends continues into 2026, with the total number of units ordered roughly flat compared to the first two months of 2025. This bifurcation can generally be attributed to an increased demand for automation, shifting customer industries, and ongoing market distortions from federal policy and geopolitical disorder.

Contract machine shops, the largest customer of manufacturing technology, increased their value of orders by more than a quarter over the first two months of 2025, while the number of units increased by only a modest single-digit percentage. Job shops typically increase orders in response to demand for additional capacity, and the number of units ordered closely correlates with the value of those orders.

Conversely, manufacturers of aerospace equipment tend to have outsized order values compared to the number of units ordered because of the highly specialized operations required in their processes. In the first two months of 2026, aerospace orders were 233% above 2025, and units were 125% higher.

In previous months, as businesses learned to cope with elevated levels of uncertainty and the cost of inaction grew, demand for manufacturing technology increased. This confident investment in the face of fluctuating policy carried into the first two months of 2026. However, with the outbreak of war in Iran in the last few days of February, whether businesses will continue to invest at this elevated rate remains to be seen. On one hand, additional military spending will funnel into an aerospace and defense sector already grappling with capacity constraints, yet further changes to the tariff environment could stall additional investment.

Tune in to the AMT Spring Economic Update Webinar on Tuesday, April 14, for the latest outlook and insights on how the latest policy changes and geopolitical turmoil could affect demand for manufacturing technology in the remainder of 2026.

The United States Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) Report is based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTO program. This report, compiled by AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology, provides regional and national U.S. orders data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology orders provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity. USMTO.com.

AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology represents U.S.-based providers of manufacturing technology - the advanced machinery, devices, and digital equipment that U.S. manufacturing relies on to be productive, innovative, and competitive. Located in McLean, Virginia, near the nation's capital, AMT acts as the industry's voice to accelerate the pace of innovation, increase global competitiveness, and develop manufacturing's advanced workforce of tomorrow. With extensive expertise in industry data and market intelligence, as well as a full complement of international business operations, AMT offers its members an unparalleled level of support. AMT also produces IMTS - The International Manufacturing Technology Show, the premier manufacturing technology event in North America. Learn more at AMTonline.org.

IMTS - The International Manufacturing Technology Show is where the creators, builders, sellers, and drivers of manufacturing technology come to connect and achieve the impossible. Attendees discover advanced manufacturing solutions that include innovations in CNC machining, automation, robotics, additive, software, AI, and transformative digital technologies that are driving the industry forward. Owned and produced by AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology, IMTS is the largest and most defining trade event for manufacturing technology in the Western Hemisphere. With more than 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space, the show attracts visitors from more than 110 countries. IMTS 2024 had 89,020 registrants, featured 1,609 exhibiting companies, and included a Student Summit that attracted 14,713 visitors. IMTS 2026 will be held Sept. 14-19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Discover more at IMTS.com and connect with IMTS on social.