April U.S. machine tool consumption totaled an estimated $450 million, according to AMT, The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. This was down 22% compared to the revised estimate of $577 million for March, and up 0.7% compared to the estimated $447 million total for April 1999. With the year-to-date total computed at $1.87 billion, 2000 is up 9% compared to the same period in 1999.
“The drop in April orders was not a surprise following the unusual strength of March sales. April’s marginal growth over last April pushed year-on-year growth to 9% through the first four months of 2000,” noted Don F. Carlson, AMT President. “Even more encouraging is that export sales are up more than 80% over a dismal 1999, reflecting improvements in overseas markets.”
The monthly USMTC report, which provides consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment, is computed from reports submitted by participating companies.
National machine tool consumption (in millions):
| NATIONAL | April '00 | Previous Month | YTD '00 | YTD '99 | Change |
| Metal Cutting | 245.72 | 361.96 | 1,120.06 | 945.85 | 18.4% |
| Metal Forming | 37.55 | 35.71 | 146.05 | 178.52 | -18.2% |
| Other | 58.76 | 40.81 | 155.09 | 185.34 | -16.3% |
| Total | $342.02 | $438.48 | $1,421.20 | $1,309.77 | 8.5% |
Domestic
Machine tool consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakouts within the United States. March order value and percent total by region as follows:
- Northeast Region
Northeast Region machine tool consumption of $48.95 million in April was down 34.5% compared to March’s $74.67 million, but up 7% compared to April 1999. Year-to-date machine tool consumption rose to $221.78 million, 21.2% ahead of the same time last year. - Southern Region
At $42.11 million, April machine tool consumption in the Southern Region was down 37.6% from March's $67.52 million, and down 24% compared to last April. The year-to-date total of $211.0 million is up 2.7% from the comparable figure for 1999. - Midwestern Region
Midwestern Region machine tool consumption in April fell to $129.49 million, down 25.3% from March’s $173.37 million and down 2.6% compared to a year ago. At $564.86 million, year-to-date consumption is up 1.2% compared to the same period in 1999. - Central Region
Central Region machine tool consumption in April rose to $81.37 million, up 22.5% compared to March’s $66.40 million and up 12.4% compared to April 1999.
