Analysis of Accumulated Machine Orders in Japan in the First Three Quarters of 2011

According to the latest machine tool order data released by the Japan Machine Tool Industry Association (JMTBA), in September 2011, Japan's machine tool orders amounted to 110.679 billion yen, a year-on-year increase of 11.9% and a year-on-year increase of 20.3%. From January to September, Japan's machine tool orders exceeded 100 billion yen in eight months, and fell to below 100 billion yen in August alone. In the first three quarters of 2011, Japan’s accumulated machine tool orders amounted to 997.271 billion yen, an increase of 41.9% from the same period in 2010, and this figure has exceeded the 2010 annual value of 978.62 billion yen.

According to JMTBA’s president Yokoyama Motohiko, the order for Japanese machine tools in 2011 is expected to reach 1.3 trillion yen, an increase of approximately 30% from 2010. If this goal can be achieved, Japan's machine tool orders will basically return to 2008 levels.

From the perspective of domestic and international demand, in September, Japan's domestic machine tool orders amounted to 35.738 billion yen, a decrease of 4.9% from the previous quarter but an increase of 31.8% year-on-year. In September, Japan's overseas machine tool orders amounted to 74.941 billion yen, an increase of 22.1% from the previous quarter and a year-on-year increase of 15.5%. In the first three quarters of the year, domestic orders for Japanese machine tools accumulated to 317.403 billion yen, an increase of 44.3% year-on-year; cumulative overseas orders were 680.228 billion yen, a year-on-year increase of 40.8%.