Japan’s industrial robots for Jul-Sep 2023: Shows declining trends

On October 27, the Japan Robot Association (JARA) reported the amount of new orders and production of industrial robots by its member companies for the July-September period of 2023. 

Orders fell 31.8% year-on-year (YoY) to 161.0 billion yen, the fourth consecutive quarterly decline. 

Production decreased 16.0% YoY to 187.4 billion yen, the second consecutive quarterly decline. The year-on-year decline in both orders and production was larger than the decline in the previous quarter. Orders reached the lowest level for the July-September period since 2017. 

Shipments declined 15.0% YoY to 192.1 billion yen, while the total number of units shipped declined 24.7% YoY to 48,239 units. Shipments declined for the second consecutive quarter, while the total number of units shipped declined for the third consecutive quarter. Shipments to Japan’s domestic electrical equipment industry, which had been on a recovery and expansion trend, turned negative for the first time in 10 quarters. 

Exports fell 17.7% YoY to 146.3 billion yen, while the number of units exported fell 27.4% YoY to 38,411. Exports to Asia for welding and to Europe for mounting increased significantly. However, exports to the semiconductor and general assembly industries declined sharply.

Demand for automation has expanded on the back of various risks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions. However, declines in some applications that have not yet bottomed out and uncertainties about the global economy are hampering growth prospects.