U.S. Machine Tool Sales Up 56.1% in First Half

Aug. 10, 2010
Demand rose 35.8% from May to June

Domestic sales of machine tools totaled $241.47 million during June, according to the monthly U.S. Manufacturing Technology Consumption survey conducted by AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. The figures represent an increase of 35.8% from May to June, and 71.1% from June 2009.

For the first six months of 2010, domestic manufacturing technology consumption amounts to $1,207.60 million, up 56.1% versus the January-June 2009 period.

The United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) report is compiled monthly by the two trade associa-tions, which represent machine shops and machine tool distributors. Based on actual date reported by participating companies, the USMTC presents regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equip-ment.

“Typically, manufacturing technology order rates slow down in the months leading up to the International Manufacturing Technology Show – IMTS,” AMT president Douglas K. Woods, observed. “However, increased foreign direct investment and a doubling of orders in aerospace and construction equipment through the first half 2010 resulted in an acceleration of USMTC orders rather than the typical slow down.”

In the regional consumption reports, the USMTC finds that the Northeast had machine tool sales of $51.45 million during June. The total was an increase 52.3% compared with May’s $33.78 million, and up 90.8% compared with June 2009. At $210.61 million, regional demand is 33.2% higher than it was in June 2009.

In the South, June manufacturing technology consumption amounted to $34.50 million, 18.5% above the May figure ($29.12 million) and 36.5% higher than the June 2009 total. Southern demand for the year-to-date amounts to $188.98 million, up 75.0% compared to the same period in 2009.

Midwest regional machine tool consumption stood at $72.80 million during June, a rise of 69.3% from May ($43.00 million) and was 82.8% from June 2009. For the January-June 2010 period, Midwestern machine tool consumption amounts to $335.11 million, 51.4% more than during the first six months of 2009.

The Central states manufacturing technology consumption totaled $57.15 million during June, up 7.1% over May ($53.35 million) and up 96.9% compared with June 2009. For the year to date, the Central region posted machine tool consumption of $329.30 million, up 85.3% over January-June 2009.

June manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region totaled $25.58 million, up 37.5% from May ($18.60 mil-lion) and up 27.6% compared with June. 2009. Year-to-date regional consumption has been $143.61 million, up 32.8% compared to the same six-month period of 2009.