The total value of machine tool orders in January was 121.10 billion yen. This was a decrease of 16.0% compared to December and marked first month of decline in three months. However, this figure represented an increase of 20.4% compared to the same month of the previous year, with January posting the sixteenth consecutive month of year-on-year growth.

The total amount of orders marked the record high amount in January and remained strong. This has passed 100 billion yen for sixteenth consecutive months.

Both domestic and foreign demands are expected to be driven by a recovery trend in the future. However, we will keep a close watch on the trend of domestic orders and spot orders of electrical and precision machinery from Asia.

Domestic orders fell by 20.1% from December, amounting to 38.48 billion yen. This marked the two consecutive months of decrease. However, this figure was an increase of 12.2% over the same month of the previous year and marked the nineteenth consecutive month of year-on-year growth.

Looking at major industries, orders compared to December fell by 9.2% in industrial machinery, by 32.6% in motor vehicles, by 32.1% in electrical and precision machinery, and rose by 13.6% in aircraft, shipbuilding and transport equipment.

Foreign orders fell by 14.0% from December to 82.63 billion yen. This marked the first month of decline in eight months. But at the same time, foreign orders showed an increase of 24.7% over the same month of the previous year, with January posting the fifteenth consecutive month of year-on-year growth.

By region, orders from Asia fell by 3.0% from December to 47.79 billion yen. This was an increase of 70.3% over the same month of the previous year. Orders from Europe fell by 22.9% from December to 13.53 billion yen. This was also a decrease of 2.3% over the same month of the previous year. Orders from North America fell by 26.1% from December, amounting to 20.56 billion yen. This figure was also a decrease of 9.2% from the same month of the previous year.