1. China machine tool has increases by 40% year on year in Q1 of 2011

2. American machine tool export has a great growth in Q1 of 2011

3. German machine tool industry posts three-digit growth in orders

In the first quarter of 2011, order bookings in the German machine tool industry indicated three-digit growth rates. Orders in the January-March period rose by 130 percent year on year, according to the German Machine Tool Builders' Association (VDW). Given the dominance of the German industry in the mechanical engineering sector, data released by the VDW are seen as a barometer for general business conditions in the EU.

4. Machine tool orders of Korea increased sharply in the first quarter of 2011

Korea Machine Tool Manufacturers Association (KOMMA) to the latest statistics show that in March 2011, South Korea, new orders for machine tools 525.5 billion won, 391.2 billion won last month's increase of 34.3% over the previous year's 299.7 billion won grew by 75.3%. The first quarter, total new orders Korea Machine Tool 1.2885 trillion yen, an increase of 77.5%, is one of the best recent quarters.

5. Machine Tool Orders in Italy

According to data drawn up by the Studies Department of UCIMU-Sistemi per Produrre, the Italian machine tools, robots and automation manufacturers’ association, the first quarter of 2011 (Q1) recorded a double-figure increase in the index of Italian machine tool orders. The index was 19.1% higher than that for Q1 2010.

The index of Q1 orders within Italy actually dropped 1.3% as against the same period in 2010. This demonstrates how weak domestic demand continues to be in the wake of the global downturn. There, the absolute index is at just 69.2.

In contrast, the index of orders collected abroad, after a growth of 32.7% from Q1 2010 to Q1 2011, has attained an absolute value of 141.9. Sales of machine tools to foreign customers is approaching the record levels of 2007.

6. Japan Machinery Orders Unexpectedly Rise In March

Core machinery orders in Japan posted a surprise rise in March, in spite of the devastating earthquake and tsunami on the 11th, the Cabinet Office said on Monday, climbing a seasonally adjusted 2.9 percent compared to the previous month.

On an annual basis, machine orders also surprised to the upside by adding 6.8 percent versus forecasts for an 8.0 percent plunge following the 7.6 percent increase in the previous month.

For the first quarter of 2011, machinery orders were up 3.5 percent compared to the previous three months. For the fiscal year ended in March, machinery orders climbed 7.0 percent on year.

For the second quarter of 2011, core machinery orders are forecast to have jumped 10.0 percent compared to the previous quarter, based on the figures from the 280 manufacturers reflected in the data.