Japan preliminary machine tool orders in Dec 2024: up 18.4% MoM to JPY 141.2 billion

January 16, 2025

The Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA) has released preliminary figures on machine tool orders for December 2024, reporting a total order amount of 141.2 billion yen, up 18.4% from the previous month. This is the first increase in three months and the first time in 24 months that total orders have exceeded 140 billion yen. On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, orders also increased for the third consecutive month, reaching the highest monthly total in 2024.

Domestic demand

Domestic orders increased 16.3% month-on-month (MoM) to 39.9 billion yen, marking the second consecutive month of growth. On a YoY basis, domestic orders also increased for the second consecutive month and exceeded 35 billion yen for the first time in three months. However, despite the follow-up activities to JIMTOF2024 and the effects of subsidies, the total fell just short of 40 billion yen, reflecting the continued lack of robust demand.

Foreign demand

Foreign orders showed strong growth, rising 19.2% MoM to 101.3 billion yen, the highest level in 31 months since May 2022 (103.9 billion yen). This was also the third consecutive month of YoY growth, and the seventh highest foreign order value on record. While inventory orders and large-scale contracts likely drove the increase, specific details will be provided in the final report on January 28, 2025.

The final report will also include a comprehensive analysis of cumulative order data for 2024.