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MONTHLY DATAMonthly Data Watch: October 2026 issue

Figures through September 2026 (as published on October 15, 2026). We show only the latest values, month-on-month and year-on-year changes, and charts of the last 24 months, all from primary sources. For how to read them and the background, see the explainer article for each series.

Figures in this issue (latest month of each series)
SeriesLatest monthValueMonth on monthYear on year
Machine tool orders
Total orders		September 2026
Preliminary		2,232 × ¥100M/month+12.8%+60.4%
Machine tool production
Production value		July 2026
Final		990 × ¥100M/month+0.5%+22.1%
Carbide tool production
Total of 7 carbide tool items		July 2026
Final		372.9 × ¥100M/month+11.4%+43.5%
Tungsten price (APT import unit value)
Import unit value		August 2026
Preliminary		33,309 yen/kg+6.1%+467.3%

1. Machine tool ordersSeptember 2026 (preliminary)

Value of machine tool orders received by member companies of the Japan Machine Tool Builders' Association (monthly total). Source: Japan Machine Tool Builders' Association (JMTBA)

Total orders

2,232× ¥100M/month

Month on month +12.8%Year on year +60.4%

Domestic (from Japan)

639× ¥100M/month

Month on month +24.1%Year on year +46.5%

Overseas (from abroad)

1,593× ¥100M/month

Month on month +8.8%Year on year +66.8%

Total orders in September 2026 were the highest in the last 24 months.

05001,0001,5002,0002,500× ¥100M/month24/1025/1471026/1479Yellow = September 2026; dark green = domestic, light green = overseas; dashed outline = preliminary
Last 24 months (October 2024 – September 2026).
Sources by month (7)

For details, see Machine tool orders (vs. the annual record, by region, by industry).

2. Machine tool productionJuly 2026 (final)

Value of metal-cutting machine tools produced in Japan (sum of production values for items 0101–0122 in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Current Production Statistics). Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) (Current Production Statistics, e-Stat)

Production value

990× ¥100M/month

Month on month +0.5%Year on year +22.1%

As of this issue, figures have been published only through July 2026 (final figures are posted to e-Stat in the middle of the second month after; this page uses final figures only).

02004006008001,000× ¥100M/month1025/1471026/147Yellow = July 2026
Last 24 months (August 2024 – July 2026). Production values by item summed by Kezuriba (processed)
Sources by month (3)

For details, see Machine tool orders and industry trends.

3. Carbide tool productionJuly 2026 (final)

Value of carbide tools produced in Japan (sum of 7 items under machine tools and accessories in METI's Current Production Statistics: carbide tool bits, cutters, drills, end mills, others, inserts and cermet inserts). Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) (Current Production Statistics, e-Stat)

Total of 7 carbide tool items

372.9× ¥100M/month

Month on month +11.4%Year on year +43.5%

Of which inserts (incl. cermet)

215.8× ¥100M/month

Month on month +16.2%Year on year +58.4%

Of which drills and end mills

104.8× ¥100M/month

Month on month +5.2%Year on year +25.2%

The July 2026 total of 7 carbide tool items was the highest in the last 24 months.

As of this issue, figures have been published only through July 2026 (final figures are posted to e-Stat in the middle of the second month after; this page uses final figures only).

0100200300400× ¥100M/month1025/1471026/147Yellow = July 2026
Last 24 months (August 2024 – July 2026). Production values by item (thousand yen) summed by Kezuriba and converted to million yen (processed)
Sources by month (3)

For details, see Carbide tool price increases (price revisions by maker and raw materials).

4. Tungsten price (APT import unit value)August 2026 (preliminary)

Average per kg of tungstates imported into Japan (including ammonium paratungstate, APT; statistical code 2841.80-000). Import value ÷ quantity. Source: Ministry of Finance (Trade Statistics of Japan)

Import unit value

33,309yen/kg

Month on month +6.1%Year on year +467.3%

As of this issue, figures have been published only through August 2026 (9-digit import items come out as preliminary figures around the end of the following month and may be revised in the final figures).

010,00020,00030,00040,00050,000yen/kg1025/1471026/1478Yellow = August 2026
Last 24 months (September 2024 – August 2026). Import value ÷ quantity calculated by Kezuriba (processed). This is not the market price itself but the average of what arrived that month; months with small volumes can swing widely
Sources by month (1)

For details, see Tungsten price surge and carbide tools (market prices, export controls, China's share).

5. Tool price revisions

Revisions announced or taking effect in September–October 2026 that could be confirmed in makers' own notices. Revisions by each maker up to June are summarized in a table in the explainer article. Only revisions that makers published in their own notices or news releases (announcement date, effective date, revision rate). Rates are changes to the makers' selling prices, not distributors' retail prices. Information reported only in the press is not included

Sumitomo Electric (Hardmetal Division): for orders from October 1, 2026 (announced August 7, 2026)
What's coveredRevision rate
Carbide inserts (incl. carbide parts)+25% or more
Cermet inserts+5% or more
All SUMIBORON and SUMIDIA tool products+5% or more (some items priced individually)
Solid drills, end mills and carbide holders−25% to +10% (depends on tool diameter)
Exchangeable-tip drill heads−20% to 0% (depends on tool diameter)
Other carbide materials and tool products0%–+15%
Steel tool products (holders, cutters, parts)+10% or more

Source: Sumitomo Electric, "Price revision for Hardmetal Division products" (2026-08-07)

For each maker's past revisions and raw-material trends, see Carbide tool price increases (price revisions by maker).