Japan machine tool orders reach JPY 146.7 billion in February 2026

April 6, 2026

Orders exceed JPY 140 billion for third consecutive month; foreign demand tops JPY 100 billion for fifth straight month

The Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA) announced the final machine tool order figures for February 2026. Total orders reached JPY 146.7 billion, increasing slightly month-on-month (MoM) for the first time in two months and rising year-on-year (YoY) for the eighth consecutive month. This marked the third consecutive month in which total orders exceeded JPY 140 billion. Despite growing geopolitical uncertainties since the beginning of the year, machine tool orders continue to maintain high levels, centered on foreign demand.

Domestic demand remains steady in sideways trend

Domestic orders totaled JPY 37.2 billion, up 13.9% MoM. Orders increased MoM for the first time in two months and YoY for the second consecutive month, exceeding JPY 35 billion for the first time in two months. At the same level as last year’s average monthly orders (JPY 36.7 billion), domestic demand continues to remain in a steady sideways trend, though lacking the strength of foreign demand. While order values themselves have yet to break out of the sideways trend, business negotiations are becoming more active around AI data center expansion and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and model change demand in the automotive sector appears to be gradually emerging. Meanwhile, small and medium-sized enterprise users appear to be deferring capital investment, in anticipation of approval under the fiscal 2025 supplementary energy-saving subsidy program scheduled to begin accepting applications at the end of March.

Foreign demand sustains third-highest level on record

Foreign orders totaled JPY 109.6 billion, down 3.0% MoM. While orders declined slightly MoM for the second consecutive month, YoY orders increased for the 17th consecutive month and exceeded JPY 100 billion for the fifth consecutive month. This represents the third-highest order value on record after December last year (JPY 118.7 billion) and January this year (JPY 113.0 billion), with active conditions continuing since the fourth quarter of last year, centered on North America and Asia.

By region, Asia declined approximately 10% MoM due to the impact of Chinese New Year holidays in Greater China. However, China exceeded JPY 37 billion for the fourth consecutive month as active negotiations continued until just before the holiday break, centered on “Electrical & Precision Machinery”-related orders. India also sustained strong performance, exceeding JPY 7 billion for the first time in 11 months.

Europe showed signs of stockpiling by trading companies and agents, with “Aircraft/Shipbuilding/Transport Equipment” exceeding JPY 2 billion for the third consecutive month. Europe as a whole increased YoY for the eighth consecutive month.

North America continued its strong performance, with “Metal Products”—where small and medium-sized enterprise users are relatively numerous—exceeding JPY 10 billion for the first time, supported by the effects of permanent immediate expensing measures and interest rate cuts in the United States. North America as a whole exceeded JPY 30 billion for the third consecutive month.

February Summary

	Amount (million yen)	MoM change (%)	YoY change (%)
Total Orders	146,744	100.8	124.2
Domestic total	37,164	113.9	110.1
Industrial Machinery	14,094	117.5	112.4
Motor Vehicles	7,834	119.2	112.1
Electrical & Precision Machinery	5,770	110.5	178.0
Aircraft/Shipbuilding/Transport equipment	2,229	65.0	53.2
Foreign total	109,580	97.0	129.8
Asia	55,200	89.2	134.3
Europe	16,712	111.0	108.4
North America	35,769	103.5	139.0