Monthly Machine Tool Orders (November 2016)

The total value of machine tool orders in November was 107.93 billion yen. This was an increase of 15.0% compared to October 2016 and marked the first month of growth in two month. However, this figure represented a decrease of 5.6% compared to the same month of the previous year, with posting the sixteenth consecutive month of year-on-year decline. The total amount of orders topped 100 billion yen for the first time in two months. Due to the uncertainty of overseas economies, cautious movement will continue in both domestic and overseas market. We will keep a close watch on the trends of the exchange rate and various government policies.

Domestic orders rose by 8.7% over October, amounting to 44.96 billion yen. This marked the first month-on-month growth in two months. This figure was a decline of 1.1% from the same month of the previous year and marked the tenth consecutive year-on-year decrease. Looking at major industries, orders compared to October rose by 11.0% in industrial machinery, rose by 6.1% in motor vehicles, rose by 9.8% in electrical & precision machinery, and rose by 21.6% in aircraft, shipbuilding & transport equipment.

Foreign orders rose by 19.9% over October to 62.97 billion yen. This marked the first month of month-on-month growth in two months. Foreign orders showed a decrease of 8.6% from the same month of the previous year, with November posting the eighteenth consecutive month of decline.

By region, orders from Asia rose by 23.5% over October to 23.01 billion yen. This was a decrease of 19.9% from the same month of the previous year. Orders from Europe rose by 20.1% over October to 15.85 billion yen. This was an increase of 11.9% over the same month of the previous year. Orders from North America fell by 12.6% from October, amounting to 17.39 billion yen. This figure was also a decrease of 29.6% from the same month of the previous year.