Japan Machine Tool Orders Slow in April

Japan’s machine tool orders increased by 42.5% year-on-year to JPY 204,377 million in October 2026, easing from a 60.4% surge in the previous month. Demand remained robust across both domestic and overseas markets, with domestic orders rising 46.5% year-on-year to JPY 52,290 million, despite falling 18.2% from September, while foreign orders climbed 41.1% to JPY 152,087 million, recording a smaller monthly decline of 4.5%. Overseas demand continued to account for the bulk of total orders, representing nearly 75% of the October figure. On a monthly basis, total orders declined by 8.4%, slowing from a 12.8% rise in the preceding period. In the first ten months of 2026, cumulative machine tool orders increased 43.2% year-on-year to JPY 1,873,680 million, supported by gains of 46.8% in foreign orders and 33.9% in domestic demand.

Japan’s machine tool orders rose 60.4% year-on-year to a new record of JPY 223,209 million in September 2026, easing from a 64.7% surge in the previous month while marking the 14th consecutive month of annual growth. Demand remained robust across both domestic and overseas markets, with domestic orders increasing 46.5% (vs 61.5% in August) to JPY 63,930 million, while foreign orders climbed 66.8% (vs 65.8%) to JPY 159,279 million. On a monthly basis, total orders jumped 12.8%, strongly picking up from a 2.5% gain in August. In the first nine months of 2026, cumulative machine tool orders rose 43.3% year-on-year to JPY 1,669,307 million, as overseas and domestic orders expanded 47.6% and 32.5%, respectively.

Japan’s machine tool orders surged by 65.4% year-on-year to JPY 197,880 million in August 2026, marking the strongest growth since October 2021 and following a 50.4% rise in the previous month. The increase was driven by strong demand from both domestic and overseas markets. Foreign orders climbed 65.8% year-on-year to JPY 146,347 million, following a 50.5% gain in July, while domestic orders rose 61.6% to JPY 51,533 million, after rising 50.2% in the previous month. On a monthly basis, total machine tool orders increased 2.5% in August, reversing a 5.1% fall in the preceding period. For the first eight months of 2026, machine tool orders totaled JPY 1,446,111 million, up 40.9% from the same period a year earlier, as foreign and domestic orders increased 45.1% and 30.4%, respectively.