Japan’s core machinery orders rebound 5.2 per cent

Japan’s core machinery orders recovered in August after July’s decline. Private orders excluding ships and electric utilities rose 5.2 per cent, with gains in manufacturing and other businesses. The broader total fell as overseas and public-sector demand weakened. The monthly survey tracks orders received by machinery makers, providing an indicator of equipment investment before projects are completed.

Economics & Markets·October 15, 2026·Midday

08:21 UTC

Core orders recover after July’s fall

Japan’s core machinery orders rose 5.2 per cent in August, following a 3.7 per cent decline in July. The series excludes volatile orders for ships and from electric utilities.^{[1], [2]}

The Cabinet Office, Japan’s government economic statistics body, put the seasonally adjusted value at 1,069.8 billion yen in its 15 October release. Unadjusted orders were 18.6 per cent higher than a year earlier. The survey follows orders received by 280 machinery manufacturers and excludes consumption tax from the values.^[1]

Manufacturing and other private orders rise

Manufacturing orders increased 1.6 per cent to 527.0 billion yen. Non-manufacturing orders excluding ships and electric utilities grew 2.9 per cent to 541.3 billion yen. Among manufacturers, non-ferrous metals rose 132.6 per cent and motor vehicles and parts increased 13.1 per cent. Paper and paper products fell 33.2 per cent, while steel declined 36.3 per cent.^[1]

Overseas demand lowers the wider total

Total machinery orders fell 3.7 per cent, with all private-sector orders down 4.2 per cent when ships and utilities were included. Public orders declined 6.1 per cent and overseas orders fell 7.7 per cent. Overseas gains in aircraft and machine tools were outweighed by lower ship and industrial machinery orders. Machinery orders are a leading indicator of equipment investment rather than a measure of projects completed that month.^[1]

Core orders recover after July’s fall

Manufacturing and other private orders rise

Overseas demand lowers the wider total

References

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