Japan Machine Tool Orders Ease in May

Japan’s machine tool orders rose by 3.4% year-on-year to JPY 128,716 in May 2025, slowing from a 7.7% increase in the previous month.

This marked the eight consecutive month of rising machine tool orders although the softest in the sequence, mainly due to a decline of 5.2% from a year earlier in domestic demand to JPY 33,014.

Meanwhile, foreign orders advanced by 6.7% to JPY 95,702.

On a monthly basis, orders fell by 1.2% in May, easing from a 13.8% drop in the preceding period.