November 2025 U.S. Cutting Tool Orders Rise Year Over Year

U.S. cutting tool shipments totaled $206.1 million in November 2025, reflecting a 9.9% increase compared with November 2024, according to the latest Cutting Tool Market Report. The monthly report is jointly published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI).

While year-over-year performance improved, shipments declined 17.6% from October 2025, a seasonal trend that has historically affected November results. Despite the monthly decrease, year-to-date cutting tool shipments reached $2.34 billion, representing a 1.3% increase over the same period in 2024.

Pricing Pressures and Sector Performance

Industry representatives noted that pricing pressures continue to influence market dynamics. According to Jack Burley, chairman of AMT’s Cutting Tool Product Group and president of Big Daishowa, rising material costs are contributing to higher overall dollar sales without a corresponding increase in unit volume.

“Overall prices for carbide- and HSS-based products are on the rise,” Burley said. He added that while agriculture and automotive production remain relatively flat, aerospace and defense manufacturing continue to operate at elevated levels, supporting demand for cutting tools.

Moving Averages Point to Gradual Improvement

The report also highlights longer-term trends through moving averages. Steve Stokey, executive vice president and owner of Allied Machine and Engineering, noted that the customary November slowdown affected the three-month moving average, consistent with historical patterns. However, the 12-month moving average continued its gradual upward trend, indicating underlying stability in the market.

Stokey characterized 2025 as an atypical year for manufacturers but said recent trends suggest conditions may improve heading into 2026.

Cutting Tool Consumption as an Economic Indicator

The Cutting Tool Market Report tracks U.S. manufacturers’ consumption of cutting tools, a key consumable in the manufacturing process. Because cutting tool usage directly reflects shop-floor activity, the data is widely regarded as a leading indicator of broader manufacturing upturns and downturns.

As 2025 concludes, year-over-year growth in cutting tool shipments and a rising long-term average suggest steady, if uneven, manufacturing activity as the industry enters 2026.