MONTHLY DATAMonthly Data Watch (UK)
The UK has no published monthly statistics on machine tool orders like JMTBA's in Japan, and the figures from the industry association MTA are for members only. So, as a guide to domestic equipment demand, we show import and export values of machine tools (HS 8456–8461) from HMRC's trade statistics, and from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the production index for machinery (SIC 28) and producer price indices for machine tools and tools. Unlike Japan, the UK relies on imports for many of the machine tools used at home, so movements in import values reflect domestic demand well.
Figures through September 2026 (as published on October 23, 2026). We show only the values for the last 24 months and the month-on-month and year-on-year changes for the latest month. Trade statistics and the production index for the month before last are complete in the middle of each month, and the producer price index for the previous month late in each month.
Each month the figures are updated, we keep a snapshot of them as an issue (latest issue: October 2026 / All issues).
| Series | Latest month | Value | Month on month | Year on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine tool imports (HMRC) Total imports | August 2026 Preliminary | 44.2 £ million/month | −6.5% | +32.5% |
| Machine tool exports (HMRC) Total exports | August 2026 Preliminary | 21.7 £ million/month | −27.1% | −16.3% |
| Machinery production index (ONS) Production index (SIC 28) | August 2026 Preliminary | 96.4 index (2024=100) | −10.4% | +2.8% |
| Machine tool producer prices (ONS) Producer price index (CPA 28.41) | September 2026 Preliminary | 129.9 index (2015=100) | −0.1% | −2.3% |
| Tool producer prices (ONS) Producer price index (CPA 25.73) | September 2026 Preliminary | 107.9 index (2015=100) | −0.1% | +1.3% |
1. Machine tool imports (HMRC)August 2026 (preliminary)
Monthly total value of metal-removal machine tools imported into the UK (HS 8456–8461: laser and EDM machines, machining centers, lathes, drilling and milling machines, grinding machines, gear cutting machines, etc.). Not seasonally adjusted. As there are no domestic statistics on machine tool orders, we show this as a guide to domestic equipment demand. Source: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC, trade statistics, uktradeinfo)
Total imports
44.2£ million/month
Month on month −6.5%Year on year +32.5%
From the EU
19.1£ million/month
Month on month −32.3%Year on year +4.4%
From outside the EU
25.0£ million/month
Month on month +32.0%Year on year +66.8%
As of this issue, figures have been published only through August 2026 (figures for the month before last come out in the middle of each month, e.g. August figures in mid-October; earlier months may be revised in later releases).
Sources by month (1)
- September 2024 – August 2026 (published, preliminary): HMRC, “Overseas Trade Statistics” (uktradeinfo API, OTS, CN8 84560000–84619999, Open Government Licence v3.0)
For details, see History of British machine tools (measurement, and life today at research centers).
2. Machine tool exports (HMRC)August 2026 (preliminary)
Monthly total value of metal-removal machine tools exported from the UK (HS 8456–8461: laser and EDM machines, machining centers, lathes, drilling and milling machines, grinding machines, gear cutting machines, etc.). Not seasonally adjusted. Source: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC, trade statistics, uktradeinfo)
Total exports
21.7£ million/month
Month on month −27.1%Year on year −16.3%
To the EU
11.5£ million/month
Month on month −28.6%Year on year −32.6%
To outside the EU
10.2£ million/month
Month on month −25.3%Year on year +15.3%
As of this issue, figures have been published only through August 2026 (figures for the month before last come out in the middle of each month, e.g. August figures in mid-October; earlier months may be revised in later releases).
Sources by month (1)
- September 2024 – August 2026 (published, preliminary): HMRC, “Overseas Trade Statistics” (uktradeinfo API, OTS, CN8 84560000–84619999, Open Government Licence v3.0)
For details, see History of British machine tools (measurement, and life today at research centers).
3. Machinery production index (ONS)August 2026 (preliminary)
Volume index for SIC 28 (general- and special-purpose machinery, i.e. machinery in general, including machine tools 28.4) within the UK Index of Production. Original series without seasonal adjustment (CVM NSA). Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS, Index of Production)
Production index (SIC 28)
96.4index (2024=100)
Month on month −10.4%Year on year +2.8%
As of this issue, figures have been published only through August 2026 (figures for the month before last come out in the middle of each month, e.g. August figures in mid-October; the previous month is revised in the following month's release, and past figures are revised in the Blue Book every autumn).
Sources by month (1)
- September 2024 – August 2026 (published, preliminary): ONS, “Index of Production” time series K26N (IOP: 28 Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.: CVMNSA) (published 2026-10-15, Open Government Licence v3.0)
For details, see History of British machine tools (measurement, and life today at research centers).
4. Machine tool producer prices (ONS)September 2026 (preliminary)
Producer price index (ex-factory prices) of metalworking machinery shipped to the UK domestic market (CPA 28.41: metal-removal machines such as lathes, machining centers and grinding machines, and forming machines such as presses). Not seasonally adjusted. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS, Producer Price Index)
Producer price index (CPA 28.41)
129.9index (2015=100)
Month on month −0.1%Year on year −2.3%
Sources by month (1)
- October 2024 – September 2026 (published, preliminary): ONS, “Producer price inflation” time series EWKY (PPI INDEX OUTPUT DOMESTIC - C2841 Metal forming machinery, 2015=100) (published 2026-10-21, Open Government Licence v3.0)
For details, see History of British machine tools (measurement, and life today at research centers).
5. Tool producer prices (ONS)September 2026 (preliminary)
Producer price index (ex-factory prices) of tools shipped to the UK domestic market (CPA 25.73: cutting tools for machine tools such as drills, milling cutters, tool bits and inserts, plus hand tools and dies and molds). Not seasonally adjusted. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS, Producer Price Index)
Producer price index (CPA 25.73)
107.9index (2015=100)
Month on month −0.1%Year on year +1.3%
Sources by month (1)
- October 2024 – September 2026 (published, preliminary): ONS, “Producer price inflation” time series EW7M (PPI INDEX OUTPUT DOMESTIC - C2573 Tools, 2015=100) (published 2026-10-21, Open Government Licence v3.0)
For details, see History of British machine tools (measurement, and life today at research centers).
All issues
Figures not included and why (5)
- Machine tool orders: ONS does not publish statistics on manufacturing orders, and the order and consumption figures of the MTA (Manufacturing Technologies Association) are for members only and not published
- Production index for machine tools alone (SIC 28.4): ONS's Index of Production goes down only to the 2-digit SIC 28, with no monthly 28.4
- Eurostat sts_inpr_m (C284) and Comext: UK data stop in 2020 because of the UK's exit from the EU
- Producer prices for C2849 (other machine tools): ONS time series EWKZ stopped being updated with the September 2025 data
- ONS trade (CPA 28.4 exports and imports, MQ10): it includes forming machines and has no monthly values on the time-series page, so we used HMRC figures, which can be split by HS code
FAQ
- When are the UK figures updated?
- Trade statistics and the production index for the month before last are complete in the middle of each month, and the producer price index for the previous month late in each month. This page is updated every month between mid-month and late in the month by re-fetching the data from the publishers' databases. In each month the figures move forward, we add one issue, and earlier issues remain available from the issue list. When later releases revise past months, we replace them with the latest values.
- Can these be compared directly with Japan's figures?
- Values are shown in each country's own currency and are not converted to yen. The production index is a volume index, in different units from Japan's Current Production Statistics (values). When comparing, look at the direction and size of year-on-year changes rather than the values themselves. For Japan's figures, see Monthly Data Watch (Japan).
- Should I look at month-on-month or year-on-year changes?
- Many of the figures are not seasonally adjusted, so month-on-month changes swing widely in months with summer holidays or the year-end break. Year-on-year changes are better for seeing which way the economy is heading. The description of each series states whether it is seasonally adjusted.