Japan Machine Tool Orders Jump 28.1% in March

Japan’s machine tool orders jumped by 28.1% year-on-year to JPY 193,506 million in March 2025, following a 24.2% increase in the previous month. This marked the highest monthly order value on record, driven by a 40.4% surge in foreign demand, reaching JPY 143,001 million. Domestic orders also rose 2.5% to JPY 50,505 million. On a monthly basis, machine tool orders climbed by 31.9% in March, following a 0.8% gain in February. In the first quarter of 2025, total orders increased by 26.0% from a year earlier to JPY 485,829 million, with overseas and domestic orders up 35.2% and 4.6%, respectively.

Japan’s machine tool orders grew by 24.2% year-on-year to JPY 146,784 million in February 2026, below market estimates and the previous month’s 25.3% rise. Still, the increase was driven by a 29.8% surge in foreign orders, which reached JPY 109,583 million. Additionally, domestic demand went up by 10.2% to JPY 37,201 million. On a monthly basis, machine tool orders advanced by 0.8% in February, recovering from an 8.2% decline in the preceding period. Considering the first two months of the year, total machine tool orders expanded by 24.8% compared to a year earlier to reach JPY 292,363 million, with foreign demand up by 32% and domestic orders rising by 6.2%.

Japan’s machine tool orders climbed by 25.3% year-on-year to JPY 145,587 million in January 2026, following a 10.6% increase in December, when orders reached their highest level in nearly four years. Foreign demand was the main driver, up 34.2% from a year earlier to JPY 112,958 million, while domestic orders gained a modest 2% to JPY 32,629 million. On a monthly basis, machine tool orders declined by 8.2% in January, reversing a 15.5% rise in the preceding period. In 2025, total machine tool orders expanded by 8% compared to a year earlier to reach JPY 1,603,916 million, with foreign orders rising by 11.5%, while domestic demand decreased by 0.3%.