McLean, Va. (December 19, 2025) — Shipments of cutting tools, measured by the Cutting Tool Market Report, a collaboration between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI), totaled $250.1 million in October 2025. Orders increased 12.7% from September 2025 and 14.7% from October 2024. Year-to-date shipments trended positively for the first time this year and totaled $2.13 billion, up 0.6% from the same period in 2024.
“The latest three-month trend is looking more promising, but our industry is still flat to down over the past year,” said Mike Stokey, president of USCTI. “I believe our industry is cautiously optimistic that 2026 will be slightly better than 2025. Obviously, that could change quickly based on any changes to economic policies.”
Costikyan Jarvis, president of Jarvis Cutting Tools, said: “The very strong October 2025 results are likely the result of several one-time factors driving demand rather than a new baseline; however, the overall picture continues to show a slow rise in industrial output, with the promise of more growth in 2026. The year-to-date 2025 data versus 2024 data show a strengthening trend consistent with other economic indicators. This suggests that industrial manufacturing is looking at a much better 2026 than 2025.”
The Cutting Tool Market Report is jointly compiled by AMT and USCTI, two trade associations representing the development, production, and distribution of cutting tool technology and products. It provides a monthly statement on U.S. manufacturers’ consumption of the primary consumable in the manufacturing process, the cutting tool. Analysis of cutting tool consumption is a leading indicator of both upturns and downturns in U.S. manufacturing activity, as it is a true measure of actual production levels.
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology represents U.S.-based providers of manufacturing technology – the advanced machinery, devices, and digital equipment that U.S. manufacturing relies on to be productive, innovative, and competitive. Located in McLean, Virginia, near the nation’s capital, AMT acts as the industry’s voice to accelerate the pace of innovation, increase global competitiveness, and develop manufacturing’s advanced workforce of tomorrow. With extensive expertise in industry data and market intelligence, as well as a full complement of international business operations, AMT offers its members an unparalleled level of support. AMT also produces IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, the premier manufacturing technology event in North America. Learn more at AMTonline.org.
The United States Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) was formed in 1988 and resulted from a merger of the two national associations representing the cutting tool manufacturing industry. USCTI works to represent, promote, and expand the U.S. cutting tool industry and to promote the benefits of buying American-made cutting tools manufactured by its members. The Institute recently expanded its by-laws to include any North American manufacturer and/or remanufacturer of cutting tools, as well as post-fabrication tool surface treatment providers. Members, which number over 80, belong to seven product divisions: Carbide Tooling, Drill & Reamer, Milling Cutter, PCD & PCBN, Tap & Die, Tool Holder and All Other Tooling. A wide range of activities includes a comprehensive statistics program, human resources surveys and forums, development of product specifications and standards, and semi-annual meetings to share ideas and receive information on key industry trends.
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