Demand for primary metals such as steel rose 12.7 percent, to $8.3 billion.
The primary metal is called the base, the matrix, or the solvent.
There was also strength in primary metals such as steel.
By industry, orders for primary metals such as steel jumped 10.1 percent in September, to $10.4 billion.
Orders for primary metals rose 5.2 percent, to $8.7 billion, with most of the gain coming in the steel industry.
Orders for primary metals fell 3.5 percent, to $11.47 billion, the first decline since January.
The drop in primary metals, like that for orders as a whole, was the first since January.
Orders for primary metals increased 5.3 percent, to $10 billion.
Zinc is the primary metal used in making American one cent coins since 1982.
And orders for primary metals slumped 6.1 percent, to $10.1 billion.