Fourth Quarter 1999

Aerospace industry orders surged 34% to $37.6 billion in the fourth quarter--the highest level in 1999. After dipping in the third quarter, sales rebounded aided by an increase in exports. Exports increased 14% in the final quarter of 1999 after sliding in each of the first three quarters. (Military exports declined to less than $3 billion for the first time this year.) Profits increased, but when expressed as a percentage of sales, margins decreased to just 4.0%. Industry employment continued to decline and appears ready to fall below 800,000 in 2000.

In Billions of Current Dollars	4Q 1999	3Q 1999	% Change 3Q99 to 4Q99	4Q 1998	1999 Year-End	1998 Year-End
Aerospace Sales	$41.81	$36.90	13.3%	$43.41	$156.91	$154.61
Profits	$1.69	$1.61	5.0%	$1.86	$10.21	$7.70
Orders	$37.55	$28.02	34.0%	$20.93	$128.17	$124.11
Exports--Total	$16.22	$14.27	13.6%	$19.60	$62.44	$64.07
Exports--Civil	$13.38	$11.20	19.5%	$16.00	$50.62	$52.00
Exports--Military	$2.54	$3.07	-17.4%	$3.60	$11.82	$12.07
Employment (in thousands)	806	825	-2.3%	888	803	885

For more information about AIA's Statistics, please contact stats@aia-aerospace.org.