Japan Machine Tool Orders Surge 52.8% in June

Japan’s machine tool orders surged 52.8% year-on-year to JPY 203,515 million in June 2026, following a 37.4% increase in the previous month and far exceeding market expectations of a 37.4% rise. This reflected robust demand across both domestic and overseas markets. Foreign orders climbed 56.0% to JPY 145,499 million after rising 37.7% in May, while domestic orders advanced 45.5% to JPY 58,016 million, following a 36.4% increase. On a monthly basis, total machine tool orders jumped 15.0% in June, reversing a 6.4% decline in the previous month. For the first half of the year, machine tool orders totaled JPY 1,055,281 million, up 35.7% from the corresponding period a year earlier, driven by strong growth in both foreign (40.9%) and domestic (22.8%) orders.

Japan’s machine tool orders grew by 37.4% year-on-year to JPY 176,883 million in May 2026, slowing from an over four-year high of 45.1% in the previous month. Gains were softer in both foreign and domestic demand. Foreign orders increased 37.7%, following a 45.7% jump in April, while domestic orders climbed by 36.4% after a 43.4% advance previously. On a monthly basis, machine tool orders continued to decline, falling 6.4% in May after a 2.3% drop in the preceding period. For the January–May period, total machine tool orders increased by 32.2% compared to the same period a year ago to JPY 851,593 million, driven by a 37.9% rise in overseas demand and a 17.6% increase in domestic orders.

Japan’s machine tool orders surged by 45.1% year-on-year to JPY 188,971 million in April 2026, far exceeding market expectations and the previous month’s 28.1% rise. The latest reading marked the strongest growth since January 2022, supported by robust gains in both foreign and domestic demand. Foreign orders advanced 45.7%, following a 40.4% jump in March, while domestic orders climbed by 43.4% after a modest 2.5% increase previously. On a monthly basis, however, machine tool orders slipped by 2.3% in April, reversing from a sharp 31.9% rise in the preceding period. For the January–April period, total machine tool orders increased by 30.9% compared to the same period a year ago to JPY 674,764 million, driven by a 37.9% rise in overseas demand and a 13.5% increase in domestic orders.