McLEAN, Va. — 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 $225.1 million in February 2026.
Orders increased 2% from January 2026 and were up 12.8% from February 2025. 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, said, “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.”
