Japan’s machine tool orders climbed by 25.3% year-on-year to JPY 145,587 million in January 2026, following a 10.6% increase in December, when orders reached their highest level in nearly four years. Foreign demand was the main driver, up 34.2% from a year earlier to JPY 112,958 million, while domestic orders gained a modest 2% to JPY 32,629 million. On a monthly basis, machine tool orders declined by 8.2% in January, reversing a 15.5% rise in the preceding period. In 2025, total machine tool orders expanded by 8% compared to a year earlier to reach JPY 1,603,916 million, with foreign orders rising by 11.5%, while domestic demand decreased by 0.3%.