The invention relates to a method for producing acupuncture needles from sections of metallic wire to the end of one of which a section of metal tube is attached which forms a handle. Customary production methods do not lend themselves to automation and result in high production costs. To be able to produce acupuncture needles in a fully automated manner while continuing to meet all medical requirements the invention provides for a certain length of an end part of the wire section (10) to be pushed through the tube section (12) and to be bent to form a handle end (16), and for said tube section (12) to be pressed against the wire section (10) by radial pressure. Alternatively, after the end part of the wire (10) has been pushed through the tube section (12) said tube section is pressed radially against the end part of the wire and shaped into a radially expanded handle end by means of axial pressure. Both methods allow for the fully automatic production of acupuncture needles at a rate of at least 80 needles per minute using a production device which is easy to construct.