October U.S. Cutting Tool Orders Climb to $250.1 Million, up 14.7% Year-Over-Year

U.S. shipments of cutting tools reached a total volume of $250.1 million in October 2025, according to the latest industry data.

These figures were released in the October Cutting Tool Market Report (CTMR), a monthly collaboration between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI). The October total represents a notable increase in manufacturing activity, showing a 12.7% rise from September 2025 and a significant 14.7% increase compared to October 2024.

Year-to-Date Trends Turn Positive

The latest report also indicates a shift in the year-to-date trajectory. For the first time in 2025, cumulative shipments have trended positively. Total shipments for the first ten months of the year stand at $2.13 billion, marking a 0.6% increase over the same period in 2024.

Industry Leaders Offer Cautious Optimism

While the October numbers show strong growth, industry executives suggest a measured outlook for the immediate future of the manufacturing sector.

Mike Stokey, president of USCTI, noted that while the recent three-month trend is promising, the industry has generally been flat to down over the past year.

“I believe our industry is cautiously optimistic that 2026 will be slightly better than 2025,” Stokey stated. He added a caveat that this outlook could change quickly depending on shifts in economic policies.

Costikyan Jarvis, president of Jarvis Cutting Tools, analyzed the surge, suggesting that the very strong October results may be attributed to "several one-time factors driving demand rather than a new baseline."

However, Jarvis noted that the broader view continues to show a slow rise in industrial output. “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,” Jarvis said.

About the Report

The Cutting Tool Market Report tracks U.S. manufacturers’ consumption of cutting tools, which are considered the primary consumable in the manufacturing process. Because cutting tool consumption reflects actual production levels, analysis of this data is viewed as a leading indicator of both upturns and downturns in U.S. manufacturing activity.