Fluid Power Shipments Dip in May 2026, but Signs of Stability are Showing
Fluid power shipments decreased again in May 2026 according to the latest data from the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA).
On a month-over-month basis, total fluid power shipments declined 3.6%, pneumatic shipments 2.1% and hydraulics 4.6%. Shipments in May were down on a year-over-year basis as well.
Despite these declines, the association says the industry remains fairly stable. Indications of such include the 12/12 rate of change for May improving compared to previous months. The 12/12 rate of change for total fluid power shipments were -2.0%, pneumatic shipments -2.0% and hydraulic shipments 0.4%. April, on the other hand, came in at -2.4% for total fluid power shipments, -2.8% for pneumatic shipments and -0.4% for hydraulic shipments.
NFPA says the May data also improved compared to March 2026, further indicating the current stability of the hydraulics and pneumatics industry.
Positive order data in May also contributes to the stable market conditions facing the sector. Overall, the NFPA says the near-term orders outlook and lack of sharp movements in the order and shipment data suggests relative stability for the fluid power market.
Learn more about how tariffs and other market factors have impacted the fluid power industry:
Trump Tariffs Causing Uncertainty for Fluid Power Industry
Tariffs Altering Outlook for Industrial and Mobile Machinery Markets
Fluid Power Industry Continues to Navigate Market Challenges While Embracing New Opportunities
How Global Manufacturing will be Impacted by the U.S.-Iran Conflict
And visit our Market Trends page for even more content covering the various technological and economic trends impacting the fluid power industry as well as electromechanical motion control sector.
This is likely welcome news for the industry which like many sectors has faced challenging market conditions in recent years due to various factors such as high interest rates, tariffs, and geopolitical events (see sidebar). To paraphrase what many from the fluid power industry have told me over the last few years, the only certainty has been the continued unpredictability of the market.
But perhaps the stability starting to show itself in the NFPA’s order and shipment data is a sign of better times ahead.
Flip through the media gallery above for charts showing fluid power shipment and order trends through May 2026.
The data and charts in this media gallery are from NFPA’s Confidential Shipment Statistics (CSS) program where over 60 manufacturers of fluid power products report their monthly orders and shipments.
About the Author
Sara Jensen
Executive Editor, Power & Motion
Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies.
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