Cutting Tool Shipment Value Up While Units Dip

S hipments 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 $220.7 million in January 2026. While the dollar value of shipments increased 2.7% from December 2025, the number of units shipped decreased slightly from December. “Activity, usage and new projects all indicate that the latest trend is very positive,” said Jack Burley, chairman of AMT’s Cutting Tool Product Group and president of Big Daishowa, a cutting tool manufacturer. “Overall, this year is off to a good start, with no indications of a slowdown. However, the cost of tungsten carbide raw materials continues to increase, challenging cutting tool manufacturers to stay competitive.” Everede Tool Company President Bret Tayne, meanwhile, said the cutting tool shipment data “shows indications of continued volatility.” The 2.7% increase in shipments, he noted, represents the slowest month-to-month growth reported for December to January since 2022. “Recent events,” he added, “have raised economic uncertainty, complicating efforts to project levels of overall industrial production.”