February U.S. cutting tool shipments totaled $225 million according to the latest Cutting Tool Market Report (CTMR) published by the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT).
Orders increased 2% from January 2026 and 12.8% year-over-year. Year-to-date shipments totaled $445.8 million, up 11.3% from the same period in 2025. The number of units shipped also increased slightly from January.
“The first quarter of 2026 looks a bit better from a sales perspective,” said Mike Stokey, President of USCTI and Executive Vice President and Owner of Allied Machine & Engineering, a cutting tool manufacturer. “Unfortunately, there continues to be uncertainty regarding the cost and supply of raw materials. The leadership and membership of USCTI are keeping a close eye on this issue. These factors, along with the war in the Middle East, are requiring constant attention from our entire industry.”
Michelle Kocses, Senior Economist at ITR Economics, added: “The year is off to a strong start, with cutting tool orders up double digits from the start of 2025. Higher demand is supported by rising industrial activity. Construction machinery, defense and aerospace markets are leading the growth. Laggards include the heavy truck, light vehicle and medical equipment markets. Organic market growth will likely drive top lines higher, but it is important to focus on efficiency given multifaceted cost pressures.”
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.
The graph below includes the 12-month moving average for the durable goods shipments and cutting tool orders. These values are calculated by taking the average of the most recent 12 months and plotting them over time. Click on the chart for a larger version.
