MT orders total 133.9 billion JPY in September 2023: Over 130 billion for the first time in 5 months

October 27, 2023

The Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA) announced the firm report of machine tool orders for September 2023. The total amount of orders received was 133.9 billion yen. This was the second consecutive month of month-on-month (MoM) increase and the ninth consecutive month of year-on-year (YoY) decrease, and exceeded 130 billion yen for the first time in five months. Domestic demand increased from the previous month in many industries due to the effect of the end of the first half of the fiscal year, while foreign demand saw a high level of orders with contributions from large orders in various regions. This is the 32nd consecutive month that total orders have exceeded 100 billion yen.

Domestic demand was 45 billion yen, up from the previous month for the first time in three months and down for the 13th consecutive month. Orders exceeded 45 billion yen for the first time in six months due to the effect of the end of the first half of the fiscal year. It was the second highest this year, but the market is still in the adjustment phase.

Among the 11 industry sectors, 10 industries posted MoM increases. Motor Vehicles exceeded 10 billion yen for the first time in nine months, while Electrical & Precision Machinery recorded some growth, exceeding 5.5 billion yen for the first time in six months. On the other hand, nine industries posted YoY declines, indicating that the overall adjustment phase is continuing.

Foreign demand increased month-on-month for the second consecutive month and decreased year-on-year for the ninth consecutive month to 88.8 billion yen, exceeding 80 billion yen for the first time in three months and exceeding 85 billion yen for the first time in five months.

Orders by region were as follows: In Asia, Thailand saw a reactionary decline from the previous month’s large orders, but China, where there are concerns about the impact of the economic slowdown, continued to be solid at 190 for the second consecutive month, and India recorded its third-highest order volume on record due to large orders. Orders from Asia exceeded 30 billion yen for the second consecutive month, despite a decline from the previous month. Orders from Europe exceeded 20 billion yen for the first time in five months. In addition to the increase after the summer vacation, Turkey set a new record, exceeding 3 billion yen for the first time in 8 months, and “Central Europe” in the EU exceeded 2 billion yen for the first time in 10 months. Orders from North America increased from the previous month in all countries in the region, surpassing the record high of last May (33.0 billion yen). Large orders for Industrial Machinery and Aircraft/Ship/Transport Equipment were seen in each region, resulting in the U.S. exceeding 28 billion yen for the first time in 16 months, the fourth highest in history; Canada exceeding 2.5 billion yen for the first time in history; and Mexico exceeding 2.5 billion yen for the first time in two months.

September Summary

	Amount (million yen)	MoM change (%)	YoY change (%)
Total Orders	133,942	116.7	88.8
Domestic total	45,045	126.1	85.9
Industrial Machinery	17,654	121.4	86.4
Motor Vehicles	10,282	129.7	85.4
Electrical & Precision Machinery	5,726	112.5	84.7
Aircraft/Shipbuilding/Transport equipment	1,677	153.9	108.8
Foreign total	88,897	112.5	90.3
Asia	32,380	112.5	90.3
Europe	20,690	117.0	109.1
North America	34,169	137.8	113.4