MECT 2025 opens in Nagoya with record exhibitor numbers

October 15, 2025

MECT 2025, Japan’s largest machine tool exhibition of the year, opens October 22–25 at Port Messe Nagoya. This year’s event will feature 524 exhibitors—the highest number in its history—occupying 2,092 booths. With domestic machine tool demand lagging behind strong foreign orders, expectations are high that MECT will help revitalize Japan’s home market.

Japan’s machine tool demand:
Steady but lacking momentum

Japan’s machine tool market in 2025 can best be described as “steady but lacking momentum.” According to the Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA), total orders in August reached JPY 119.72 billion, up 8.1% year-on-year (YoY). While most months this year have exceeded 2024 levels, monthly growth rates remain moderate—typically 3% to 11%—reflecting recovery from a weak 2024 base following two years of decline from the 2022 peak.

A closer look reveals a stark contrast between domestic and foreign demand. Domestic orders have fallen below year-earlier levels every month since April, while foreign orders have consistently exceeded 2024 figures, rising 17.9% YoY in March thanks to fiscal year-end demand. Although foreign demand naturally accounts for a larger share, the sluggish domestic side remains a concern.

In the first half of 2025, total orders reached JPY 777.54 billion, up 5.1% YoY, representing just under half of JMTBA’s annual forecast of JPY 1.6 trillion. If domestic investment gains traction alongside firm overseas demand, that target remains within reach.

The 20th edition of Japan’s largest machine tool fair

Against this backdrop, the 20th edition of MECT (MECHATRONICS TECHNOLOGY JAPAN) will take place this month under the tagline “This discovery is hot!!!! (この発見、激アツ!!!!)” Held biennially in odd-numbered years since its inaugural event in 1987, MECT has served as a vital platform for delivering cutting-edge technology and information to machine tool users working on the front lines of manufacturing.

Held in Japan’s manufacturing heartland where key user industries such as automotive and aerospace are concentrated, MECT is known as a hands-on trade fair rooted in real production challenges. Exhibitors are preparing to showcase advanced solutions addressing current needs on the shop floor, ensuring that MECT functions not merely as a display event but as a practical platform for business transactions and innovation.

As Japan’s largest machine tool exhibition of 2025 gets underway on October 22, all eyes will be on Nagoya to see what new technologies and connections emerge during four exciting days of discovery.