Using DEFORM-3D software the modelling of cylindrical workpiece upsetting process was carried out by finite element method. Von Mises yield criterion and Hill’s yield criterion were employed for isotropic and anisotropic materials respectively. The problem set for anisotropic material was solved in three variants with successive rotation of the largest flow stress direction along three coordinate axes. It was discovered that the base of the cylinder can take an oval shape when flow stress directions of various values lie in the base plane. In this case the smaller axis of the oval corresponds to the largest flow stress direction. When flow stress directions of various values lie in longitudinal section plane of the workpiece, its shape stays cylindrical.