Japan’s machine tool orders growth cooled in September 2026, with the indicator easing to 60.4% year-on-year, down from 64.7% in the previous month. The data, updated on 9 October 2026, reflect a moderation in momentum compared with August, when orders had shown a stronger expansion versus the same month a year earlier.
The figures are based on a year-over-year comparison, where the current reading tracks the change in orders in September 2026 versus September 2025, while the previous reading compared August 2026 with August 2025. The slowdown from 64.7% to 60.4% suggests that, while demand for machine tools in Japan remains elevated on an annual basis, the pace of growth has begun to temper as the third quarter progresses.
