Our colleagues at AMT report that new machine tool orders in the United States declined by -12.5% compared with a particularly strong March 2026, but remained +33.2% higher than in April 2025.
Over the first four months of 2026, machine tool orders totalled $2.19 billion, representing a +28.9% increase on the same period in 2025. While the value of orders continues to grow strongly, unit sales are increasing at a more modest pace. Average order values have risen faster than inflation since the end of the pandemic recession in 2020, with this gap widening further in early 2026. This suggests that, although some pricing pressures remain, much of the increase in order values reflects higher levels of automation and the growing sophistication of machinery being purchased.
Contract machine shops have generally lagged the wider market in recent years, with investment in manufacturing technology growing more slowly. However, this trend appears to have reversed, with order growth in 2026 broadly matching the overall market. Aerospace manufacturers also increased orders in April, although for the second time this year the value of those orders rose more slowly than the number of units purchased. This may indicate a shift towards less sophisticated equipment as manufacturers seek to expand capacity more rapidly.
Regionally, all areas recorded year-to-date growth in machine tool orders during the first four months of 2026. The West posted the strongest increase, at +75.3%, while North Central-East recorded the weakest growth, although still a healthy +10.3%.
Meanwhile, cutting tool shipments were broadly unchanged from March 2026, edging down by -0.1%, but were +21.1% higher than in April 2025. On a year-to-date basis, shipments were up +17.2% compared with the same period last year.
You can download the press releases for the two surveys from the AMT website at https://www.amtonline.org/topic/intelligence or request them from MTA.