Japan’s machine tool orders grew by 37.4% year-on-year to JPY 176,883 million in May 2026, slowing from an over four-year high of 45.1% in the previous month. Gains were softer in both foreign and domestic demand. Foreign orders increased 37.7%, following a 45.7% jump in April, while domestic orders climbed by 36.4% after a 43.4% advance previously. On a monthly basis, machine tool orders continued to decline, falling 6.4% in May after a 2.3% drop in the preceding period. For the January–May period, total machine tool orders increased by 32.2% compared to the same period a year ago to JPY 851,593 million, driven by a 37.9% rise in overseas demand and a 17.6% increase in domestic orders.