October 2022 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $200.6 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report collaboration, was up 3.4 percent from September’s $194.0 million and up 11.7 percent when compared with the $179.6 million reported for October 2021. This has been the highest monthly total since October 2019. With a year-to-date total of $1.8 billion, 2022 is up 9.4 percent when compared to the same time period in 2021.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals reported by the companies participating in the CTMR program. The totals here represent the majority of the U.S. market for cutting tools.

“Market conditions for the cutting tool industry remain positive,” said Jeff Major, President of USCTI. “Overall year-to-date sales versus 2021 are up 9.4 percent. Cutting tool sales for 2023 are expected to remain positive, led by the automotive and aerospace market segments. Shipping costs have stabilized somewhat, which helps our overall business, while there still remains some uncertainty with raw material costs.”

Steve Stokey, Executive Vice President and Owner of Allied Machine and Engineering, also had a positive attitude toward the direction of the cutting tool industry, stating, “Cutting tool orders continue to climb even through rocky waters. Certainly, we are all bracing for the impact of the interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve.”

Stokey discussed how the durable goods industry influences the cutting tool industry. “The real key for our industry will be how durable goods perform in the months ahead. If durable goods production continues to grow, our industry may be able to stay in positive territory through an overall slowing economy.”