According to recent data from the
Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA), the total value of machine tool orders in January 2025 was 116.15 billion yen (about £595 million). This was a fall of 18.8% compared to December 2024 and marked the first month of month-on-month decline in two months. However, this figure did represent an increase of 4.7% compared to January 2024 and marked the fourth consecutive year-on-year growth.
Total orders fell below 120 billion yen for the first time in two months, a result of domestic and foreign demand falling by just under 20% from December 2024. The JMTBA said: “While orders received in January were roughly the same as last year, there were differences in the order-receiving industries and countries/regions, making the situation patchy. We will need to keep a close eye on the future situation.”
Domestic orders fell by 19.9% from December to 32 billion yen, although this figure was still 4.6% more than that for January 2024. Looking at major industries, orders compared to December fell by 21.4% in industrial machinery, by 30.9% in motor vehicles, by 10.7% in electrical and precision machinery, and by 29.8% in aircraft, shipbuilding, and transport equipment.
Foreign orders fell by 18.4% from December to 84.15 billion yen, although they showed an increase of 4.7% over January 2024 and marked the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year growth. By region, January’s orders from Asia fell by 12.7% (compared to December) to 44.80 billion yen, although this represented a 21.7% increase on January 2024. Orders from Europe fell by 19.2% from December to 13.22 billion yen (a decrease of 21.0% from January 2024), while orders from North America fell 24.5% from December to 24.16 billion yen (a decrease of 0.7% from January 2024).