The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) recently released its annual Business Forecast Report. Data for this report was collected from 79 U.S.-based mold manufacturers during AMBA’s Business Forecast Study (conducted from late-November 2024 to early-January 2025). This benchmarking report provides an in-depth analysis of the trajectory of the U.S. mold building industry, identifying trends and challenges that will have a significant impact on mold manufacturers in 2025.

The 2025 Business Forecast Report showcases data on sales trends, profit levels, capital expenditures, shop and design employment levels and challenges faced in the industry. The data is based on responses to 33 economic indicator questions covering 2024 performance, fourth-quarter results and projections for 2025.

Findings from this year’s report indicate that mold manufacturers continue to face difficult business conditions. Profitability remains a concern, with an increase in the percentage of respondents reporting ‘Unacceptable’ margins. While shipping, backlog and quoting activity have shown signs of improvement from previous quarters, overall business conditions remain near record lows, comparable to pre-pandemic levels.

Despite these challenges, some mold manufacturers are expressing cautious optimism, particularly in specific market segments. Many are directing efforts toward continuous improvement initiatives, capital investments and workforce development strategies to navigate ongoing industry shifts.

In February, the AMBA benchmarking team hosted its annual State of the Industry webinar to break down the findings of the 2025 Business Forecast Report, providing insights into industry performance, 12-month sales forecasts, capital expenditures, employment levels, profitability and workforce development. A recording of this webinar is available to AMBA members on the Archived Webinars page of the AMBA website at https://amba.org/events/2025-state-of-the-industry-1/.

The 2025 Business Forecast Report is now available to AMBA members for $399 and for $899 to non-members. To purchase the report and explore additional AMBA benchmarking resources, visit www.amba.org/publications/.

About the AMBA
The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) is the only organization dedicated to elevating the competitive advantage of U.S. mold builders. AMBA provides workforce development initiatives, networking, benchmarking opportunities and industry promotion. AMBA members receive a variety of additional benefits, including access to cost-reduction programs, visibility to mold buyers and problem-solving resources that give members a competitive advantage. To learn more about AMBA membership and ongoing initiatives, visit www.amba.org.