Metalforming business conditions

Metalforming companies’ forecast for economic activity over the three months from April 2023 remained fairly steady from the preceding month, with some manufacturers expressing optimism and others anticipating headwinds. This is according to the April 2023 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report. Prepared monthly, the report provides an economic indicator for the next three months of manufacturing, sampling 117 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada. 

PMA’s April report shows that 55% of metalforming companies expected no change in general economic activity in the next three months (compared to 53% in March), 15% predicted an increase in activity (compared to 23% in March) and 30% anticipated a decrease in activity (up from 24% in March). Metalformers forecasted little change in incoming orders, with 28% of survey respondents expecting an increase for incoming orders during three months after April (compared to 31% in March), 44% anticipating no change (compared to 45% in March) and 28% predicting a decrease in orders (up from 24% in March).

“The latest PMA Business Conditions Report shows that the outlook continues to vary depending on the sectors that our members are supplying,” said PMA President, David Klotz. “PMA recently organised a trip to Washington, DC, for leaders from our member companies. The One Voice for Manufacturing legislative fly-in allowed our members to convey directly to Members of Congress and their staffs the need to reinstate the full deduction of R&D expensing, fund workforce training and apprenticeships, and avoid policies that drive up prices and create shortages of raw materials including steel and aluminium.”

Metalforming companies also reported virtually unchanged shipping levels. Thirty-three per cent of respondents reported an increase in average daily shipping levels in April (compared to 32% in March), 46% reported no change (compared to 44% in March) and 21% reported a decrease (down from 24% in March).

Lead times rose for the third straight month, with 17% of metalforming companies reporting an increase in lead times in April (compared to 12% in March). Seven per cent of companies had a portion of their workforce on short time or layoff (the same percentage reported in March), while 47% of companies are currently expanding their workforce (compared to 52% in March).

PMA is the full-service trade association representing the US$ 137-billion metalforming industry of North America. Its more than 900 member companies also include suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry. Full report results are available at https://www.pma.org/public/business_reports/pdf/BCREP.pdf