Japan’s core machinery orders, which exclude volatile sectors such as ships and electric power, dropped 9.4% mom to JPY 1,010.9 billion in March 2026, reversing sharply from a 13.6% rise in the prior month and worse than market expectations for an 8.1% decline. It was the steepest decline in machinery orders since last November. Manufacturing orders shrank 14.2% to JPY 488.4 billion, due to weakness across most key industries, including non-ferrous metals (-88.0%), shipbuilding (-51.2%), other transport equipment (-31.2%), textile mill products (-30.2%), petroleum and coal products (-29.6%), and chemical products (-27.9%). Meanwhile, non-manufacturing orders fell 6.0% to JPY 534.3 billion, reversing a 0.8% rise in February. For Q1, machinery orders grew 6.4%. On an annual basis, core machinery orders rose 5.9%, easing sharply from a 24.7% surge previously, marking the softest growth since last November, when machinery orders fell by 6.4%, though the reading beat forecasts of 4.5%. source: Cabinet Office, Japan

Machinery Orders in Japan decreased 9.40 percent in March of 2026 over the previous month. Machinery Orders in Japan averaged 0.28 percent from 1987 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 25.50 percent in October of 1996 and a record low of -16.40 percent in September of 2018. This page provides the latest reported value for - Japan Machinery Orders - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Japan Machinery Orders MoM - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-14 11:50 PM
Machinery Orders MoM
Feb 13.6% -5.5% -1.1% 7.0%
2026-05-20 11:50 PM
Machinery Orders MoM
Mar -9.4% 13.6% -8.1% -3.3%
2026-06-16 11:50 PM
Machinery Orders MoM
Apr -9.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
BSI Large Manufacturing 3.80 4.70 percent Mar 2026
Changes in Inventories -1738.50 -1406.50 JPY Billion Mar 2026
Coincident Index 116.40 116.20 points Mar 2026
Eco Watchers Survey Current 40.80 42.20 points Apr 2026
Eco Watchers Survey Outlook 39.40 38.70 points Apr 2026
Leading Economic Index 114.00 113.20 Points Mar 2026
Machine Tool Orders YoY 188971.00 193506.00 JPY Million Apr 2026
Machinery Orders MoM -9.40 13.60 percent Mar 2026
Machinery Orders YoY 5.90 24.70 percent Mar 2026
New Orders 1177.64 1254.29 JPY Billion Mar 2026


Japan Machinery Orders MoM
In Japan, Machinery Orders measure the month-over-month change in private sector machinery orders, excluding highly volatile categories such as shipbuilding and orders from electric power companies. This indicator is considered a key gauge of capital spending and business investment intentions in the coming months.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-9.40 13.60 25.50 -16.40 1987 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Japan Machinery Orders Fall the Most in 4 Months
Japan’s core machinery orders, which exclude volatile sectors such as ships and electric power, dropped 9.4% mom to JPY 1,010.9 billion in March 2026, reversing sharply from a 13.6% rise in the prior month and worse than market expectations for an 8.1% decline. It was the steepest decline in machinery orders since last November. Manufacturing orders shrank 14.2% to JPY 488.4 billion, due to weakness across most key industries, including non-ferrous metals (-88.0%), shipbuilding (-51.2%), other transport equipment (-31.2%), textile mill products (-30.2%), petroleum and coal products (-29.6%), and chemical products (-27.9%). Meanwhile, non-manufacturing orders fell 6.0% to JPY 534.3 billion, reversing a 0.8% rise in February. For Q1, machinery orders grew 6.4%. On an annual basis, core machinery orders rose 5.9%, easing sharply from a 24.7% surge previously, marking the softest growth since last November, when machinery orders fell by 6.4%, though the reading beat forecasts of 4.5%.
2026-05-20
Japan Machinery Orders Unexpectedly Rise
Japan’s core machinery orders, which exclude volatile sectors such as ships and electric power, increased 13.6% month-over-month to JPY 1,115.9 billion in February 2026, reversing a 5.5% decline in the prior month and beating market expectations for a 1.1% drop. Manufacturing orders jumped 30.7% to JPY 569.5 billion, boosted by solid growth across key industries, including non-ferrous metals (419.1%), ship building (127.7%), chemical and chemical products (91.6%), other transport equipment (57.2%), pulp, paper and paper products (30.1%), autos, parts and accessories (20.9%), and petroleum and coal products (17.3%). Meanwhile, non-manufacturing orders rose 0.8% to JPY 568.4 billion, much slower than a 6.8% increase in January. On an annual basis, core machinery orders grew 24.7%, accelerating sharply from a 13.7% gain previously and easily beating forecasts for 8.5%.
2026-04-15
Japan Machinery Orders Drop Less Than Expected
Japan’s core machinery orders fell 5.5% month-on-month to ¥982.4 billion in January 2026, reversing a 16.1% surge in December but outperforming market expectations for a 9.6% decline. The drop was driven mainly by a 12.5% fall in manufacturing orders to ¥435.8 billion, while non-manufacturing orders rose 6.8% to ¥563.2 billion. By industry, the steepest declines were seen in petroleum & coal products (-75.9%), non-ferrous metals (-57.1%), other non-manufacturing (-43.5%), pulp, paper & paper products (-33.8%), and other manufacturing (-14.4%). On an annual basis, private-sector orders jumped 13.7% in January, easing from a 16.8% increase in December but exceeding forecasts for a 10.5% gain. Core machinery orders are widely viewed as a volatile yet key leading indicator of capital expenditure over the next six to nine months.
2026-03-19