By Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, AMBA

US mold builders have faced turbulent business conditions over the last several months, from late 2024 into the first and second quarters of 2025. Despite this shifting political landscape, however, US mold builders are feeling largely optimistic as they see advocacy efforts, like those executed by the AMBA alongside partner Inside the Beltway Solutions, shift policy and generate favorable market conditions.

This sentiment was drawn from AMBA’s most recent benchmarking effort, in which it surveyed its membership on how recent advocacy efforts have impacted business operations and their overall outlook. When asked to compare their current business outlooks (in June 2025) to their outlooks six months prior, over half of this survey’s respondents reported an improved outlook. This partially is due to a dramatic increase in quoting; only 7% of respondents reported no recent increase in quoting,
while 79% (over three-quarters) have seen quoting rise
by 20% or more.

Although the industry is feeling some initial positive impact from ongoing international trade negotiations and the enactment of specific policies, mold builders are not without their challenges. For instance, while many respondents reported welcoming an increase in quoting, others are waiting on the materialization of new purchase orders and reshored work. If and/or when these purchase orders come to fruition, labor constraints and a lack of access to skilled labor could continue to restrict capacity utilization, which was hovering around an average of 60% at the time of this survey’s publication.

The challenge doesn’t end there for US mold builders and their suppliers. Nearly every respondent who participated in this particular survey reported experiencing a rising cost for one, if not multiple, materials. Tool steel, stainless steel and aluminum all have risen in cost, according to over half of the survey’s responses; alloy steel, carbon steel, copper, brass and others all have risen in cost as well. (Chart 1)

Today, AMBA continues to work alongside founder and Washington, D.C.-insider Omar Nashashibi of Inside the Beltway Solutions so that it can continue to build on the success experienced in Washington, D.C., as the tariffs on tooling, molds and dies imported from China remain due to the efforts of the industry.

Additionally, AMBA keeps its members “in-the-know” on all of the day-to-day legislative action that impacts AMBA members, from tariffs and taxes to regulations, job training and resources related to workforce development. n

To learn more about AMBA’s advocacy efforts, visit www.amba.org. To download the no-cost, members-only whitepaper referenced here, AMBA Advocacy Efforts for the US Mold Manufacturing Industry, visit the AMBA Publications page. To register for AMBA’s next members-only quarterly update, which is provided by Omar Nashashibi, Inside the Beltway Solutions, visit www.amba.org/events.

AMBA PROVIDES MEMBERS-ONLY ADVOCACY RESOURCES

Capitol Beat: Delivered monthly from Inside the Beltway Solutions, AMBA’s advocacy partner, this e-newsletter provides information on the latest policy shifts, tax updates and legislative actions happening in Washington, D.C., along with their potential impact on US mold manufacturing.

Quarterly Updates: Each quarter, Omar Nashashibi of Inside the Beltway Solutions provides AMBA members with a virtual update on the latest activities supporting the industry, the most recent developments from policymakers and how those actions may impact US mold manufacturers.

Public Policy Slide Deck: Monthly, Inside the Beltway Solutions provides AMBA and its membership with a Manufacturing Public Policy Slide Deck, highlighting key points worth noting for US mold manufacturers regarding legislative policy and current actions.

Grants Matrix: In addition to its other grant and scholarship opportunities, AMBA publishes a monthly Grants Matrix that outlines state, regional and national grants available to US businesses and manufacturers. These grants, tax incentives and other sources of financial support address a variety of areas, from job readiness training and economic growth to apprenticeship programs and public infrastructure.