Statistic
May 31, 2022
Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA) announced the firm machine tool orders for April 2022. The total amount of orders received was 154.9 billion yen, exceeding 150 billion yen for two months in a row. It was the eighth-highest single month in history for orders received. Although orders decreased from the previous month, as is usual in April, both domestic and foreign demand stayed at a high level. This month marks the 15th consecutive month that the amount of orders has exceeded 100 billion yen.
Domestic demand decreased for the first time in three months and increased for the 14th consecutive month, exceeding 50 billion yen for the second consecutive month. Although many industries saw month-on-month(MoM) decreases in response to the end-of-year effect in March, the automobile sector showed a MoM increase, exceeding 13 billion yen for the first time in 35 months. Investment in the automobile industry, which had been lagging behind, appeared to be recovering. Other industries also remained stable, mainly in semiconductor-related industries and equipment demand due to parts shortages.
Foreign demand decreased for the first time in two months, while year-on-year(YoY) demand increased for the 18th consecutive month, exceeding 100 billion yen for the second consecutive month. This was the fifth-highest single month on record, and the first time in April that it exceeded 100 billion yen. By region, all three of the major markets (Asia, Europe, and North America) maintained firm levels. Although Asia saw a MoM decline due to a drop in large orders related to electrical machinery, it remained above 45 billion yen for the second month in a row. Europe, too, was not affected by geopolitical risks that much, with the EU and other regions performing stable and exceeding 20 billion yen for the first time in two months. Also, North America, which reached a record high in the previous month, continued to exceed 30 billion yen this month, marking the third-highest level on record.
As of April, the impact of risk factors such as the Ukraine crisis and the COVID lockdown in China has been minimal. While orders remain at a high level, the impact of parts shortages and price hikes will need to be closely monitored in the future.
Amount (million yen) | MoM change (%) | YoY change (%) | |
Total Orders | 154,998 | 93.2 | 125.0 |
Domestic total | 53,180 | 88.3 | 147.4 |
Industrial Machinery | 22,495 | 90.1 | 161.8 |
Motor Vehicles | 13,097 | 105.1 | 120.5 |
Electrical & Precision Machinery | 5,795 | 58.4 | 150.8 |
Aircraft/Shipbuilding/Transport equipment | 1,091 | 42.9 | 119.1 |
Foreign total | 101,818 | 96.0 | 115.8 |
Asia | 47,941 | 92.4 | 92.9 |
Europe | 20,687 | 105.9 | 138.2 |
North America | 30,924 | 94.2 | 155.6 |
Japan MT orders for
October 2021: strong orders from Europe and the U.S.
November 2021:Both domestic and foreign demand remain strong
December 2021: First drop below 140 billion yen in 4 months, but still remains high
2021 summary: Japan’s MT orders in 2021 raise for the first time in 3 years
January 2022: Large orders in foreign demand; total orders exceed 140 billion yen
February 2022: High levels of both domestic and foreign demand, generally keeping strong
March 2022: Strong March results despite risk factors