Machine Tool Sales Hit Four-Year High

Manufacturing industry optimism continued to pay dividends for equipment builders as sales of US machine tools in September reached the highest level in four years. With September sales totaling $389.20 million, machine tool builders saw an increase in sales of 74.6% over $222.86 million reported for September 2003, according to the latest figures of the US Machine Tool Consumption (USMTC) report released by the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA, Rockville, MD) and AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology (McLean, VA).
The latest report showed sales rose 89.8% in September compared to August sales of $205.01 million, and the 2004 year-to-date total of $2146.95 million rose 42.2% versus 2003 sales of $1509.41 million through September. The figures are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.
"Manufacturing in the US continues to show signs of a strong comeback," according to AMTDA President Ralph J. Nappi. "Machine tool orders in September hit their highest level in four years with all regions of the country showing growth."
Regional sales showed strong overall gains paced by robust improvements in the West Region, which totaled September sales of $56.07 million, an increase of 72.1% over $32.59 million in August sales and a 196.1% leap over the September 2003 total of $18.94 million. The West Region's year-to-date total of $279.39 million rose 89.6% over September 2003 sales of $147.33 million.
In the Midwest, September sales of $162.77 million rose 156.5% over the prior month's $63.47 million in sales and increased 46.6% compared with sales of $111.03 million during September 2003. With a year-to-date total of $853.66 million, the Midwest region is 43.2% ahead of $595.99 in sales through September 2003.
With September sales of $72.47 million, the Central Region machine tool consumption increased 50.6% compared to $48.13 million in August and sales were up 115.4% over September 2003 sales of $33.64 million. With a year-to-date total of $386.50 million, the Central Region sales are up 58.7% compared to the YTD 2003 sales of $243.58 million.
Northeast Region sales of $55.03 million rose 102.3% compared to August's $27.21 million and 98.0% compared to $27.79 million last September. At $312.64 million, year-to-date machine tool consumption in the Northeast ran 52.7% higher than $204.71 million through September 2003.
In the South Region, September machine tool consumpdon totaled $42.85 million, 27.5% higher than the $33.62 million in August and 36.2% higher than $31.46 million for September a year ago. The year-to-date South Region total of $314.77 million fell 1.0% compared to $317.80 million through September 2003.