Machine Tool Orders All but Certain to Set an Annual Record in 2026: ¥1.4461 Trillion Through August (JMTBA)
Just 8 months in, we're already at 80% of the record year! ¥92.4 billion a month for the last 4 months means a new record!
According to order statistics from the Japan Machine Tool Builders' Association (JMTBA), machine tool orders for January–August 2026 came to ¥1.4461 trillion (140.9% year-on-year, same period)[1]. The previous annual record was ¥1.8158 trillion in 2018[2]. With four months left, orders averaging ¥92.4 billion a month would beat the record, and since even this year's weakest month brought in ¥145.6 billion, a new annual record is all but certain.
- August orders were ¥197.9 billion (164.7% year-on-year). According to press reports, this is the second-highest on record, after June[1][4]
- Overseas (export) orders in August were ¥146.3 billion, topping June's ¥145.4 billion and, according to press reports, setting a record high[1][2][4]
- The January–August total is ¥1.4461 trillion. Distance to the annual record (2018): ¥369.7 billion[1][2]
- JMTBA has raised its 2026 forecast from ¥1.7 trillion to ¥2 trillion, according to press reports[5][6]
¥369.7 billion to go to the annual record
Annual orders since 2009, the year after the Lehman Shock. With just the eight months through August, 2026 is already closing in on the full-year totals of 2023 and 2024.
| Monthly average over the remaining 4 months (Sep–Dec) | 2026 full-year total | Result |
|---|---|---|
| ¥92.4 billion | ¥1.8158 trillion | Matches the 2018 record |
| ¥138.5 billion | ¥2 trillion | Reaches JMTBA's forecast (as reported) |
| ¥145.6 billion (same as January, this year's lowest month) | ¥2.0284 trillion | Tops ¥2 trillion |
Month by month: over ¥170 billion every month since March
August, with its summer holidays, is usually a quiet month for orders, but in 2026 orders topped ¥190 billion for three months in a row, June through August[2][1]. Press reports point to strong demand related to AI and robotics, data centers and semiconductors[4].
Where the orders are coming from (final figures, Jan–Jul)
The breakdown by region and industry comes with the final figures. In the cumulative totals through July (the latest available), overseas (export) orders were ¥922.1 billion (142.3% year-on-year, same period) and domestic orders were ¥326.1 billion (126.5%)[2].
| Region | ¥100M | Year-on-year (same period) |
|---|---|---|
| Asia | 4,996 | 151.8% |
| of which China | 3,418 | 155.8% |
| North America | 2,729 | 138.6% |
| Europe | 1,337 | 124.8% |
| Industry | ¥100M | Year-on-year (same period) |
|---|---|---|
| General machinery | 1,212 | 117.5% |
| Automotive | 679 | 136.1% |
| Electrical & precision machinery | 493 | 151.8% |
| Auto parts | 453 | 138.3% |
| Dies & molds | 87 | 100.1% |
Orders from China grew sharply to 155.8%, and in Japan the Electrical & precision machinery sector stands out at 151.8%. In July alone, orders from electrical & precision machinery were double the year before (204.0%)[2]. Orders from die and mold makers, on the other hand, are roughly flat.
What it means for the shop floor and purchasing
- Expect long machine lead times: the order backlog at the end of July (orders received but not yet delivered) was ¥1.0091 trillion, 139.2% year-on-year[2]. Builders have a lot of work on hand, so if you are planning to replace equipment, it's safest to get quotes and confirm delivery dates early.
- JIMTOF2026 opens amid a boom: at JIMTOF (Oct 26–31), exhibitors will line up new machines for automation and labor saving. For how to get around, see JIMTOF2026 Visitor Guide.
- Tool prices keep rising: separately from machine orders, carbide tool prices keep being revised upward as the price of tungsten, their raw material, rises. To calculate how slowing down a little can lower tool costs, see How to Extend Tool Life.
Next release
Preliminary figures for September are scheduled to be released after 3:00 p.m. (JST) on Fri, Oct 9, 2026 on the JMTBA website[1][3]. If September orders reach ¥158.3 billion or more, the nine months from January to September alone will exceed the whole of 2025 (¥1.6043 trillion)[2].
Sources
- JMTBA: Preliminary order figures for August 2026 (PDF, 2026-09-09)
- JMTBA: Key machine tool statistics (through July 2026) (PDF, 2026-08-27)
- JMTBA: Order statistics (next release dates)
- Toyo Keizai Online: “Machine tool orders: strong run continues despite the summer lull; August at 164.7% year-on-year, second-highest ever at ¥197.8 billion, with overseas orders at a record”
- Nikkei: “Machine tool orders forecast at ¥1.7 trillion for 2026, set to beat last year on automation demand”
- Nikkei: “JMTBA raises 2026 machine tool order forecast by ¥300 billion to ¥2 trillion on strong AI-related demand”
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