Japan’s total machinery orders rose 7.3% MoM in August 2025, rebounding from July’s -4.2% drop and signaling a modest recovery in investment momentum.

• Core private-sector orders (excluding ships and electric power) fell -0.9% MoM, reversing part of July’s 3.0% gain and underscoring continued weakness in underlying domestic demand.

• Manufacturing orders declined -2.4% MoM, following +3.9% in July, reflecting reduced capital investment activity in the sector.

• Non-manufacturing (ex-volatile) orders decreased -6.4% MoM, after +8.8% in July, suggesting a pullback in service-related investment.

• Government orders dropped -41.4% MoM, extending June’s -11.9% fall and highlighting ongoing volatility in public-sector spending.

• Overseas orders surged +28.4% MoM, reversing July’s -8.4% decline, indicating a rebound in external demand for Japanese machinery.

• Orders through agencies fell -11.5% MoM, after +5.1% in July, pointing to weaker domestic intermediary activity.

• On a quarterly basis, total machinery orders are forecast to rise +3.7% QoQ in Q3 2025, though core private-sector orders are expected to contract -4.0% QoQ, suggesting a mixed recovery across demand segments.

Japan’s total machinery orders fell -4.2% MoM in July 2025, continuing the weak Q2 trend and pointing to a sluggish start for Q3 investment activity.

• Core private-sector machinery orders (excluding ships and electric power) dropped -4.6% MoM (vs -1.7% MoM expected), erasing much of June’s 3.0% gain and underscoring softness in underlying domestic demand.

• Manufacturing orders rose 3.9% MoM, marking the first positive reading in three months, while non-manufacturing (ex-volatile) orders fell -3.9% MoM, reversing June’s 1.8% gain.

• Government orders jumped 21.3% MoM after a -11.9% decline in June, highlighting volatility in public-sector demand.

• Overseas orders declined -8.4% MoM, extending June’s -8.8% drop, and suggesting weaker foreign demand for Japanese capital goods.

• Orders through agencies rose 5.1% MoM in July, following +6.0% in June, providing some stability within distribution channels.

• On a quarterly basis, total machinery orders were down -5.3% in Q2, but are forecast to rise 3.7% QoQ in Q3, with core private-sector orders expected to fall -4.0% QoQ, signaling a possible divergence between headline and underlying demand.

Japan’s total machinery orders rose 0.3% MoM in June 2025 but declined -5.3% QoQ in Q2, reflecting a broader pullback in capital investment.

• Core private-sector orders (excluding ships and electric power) increased 3.0% MoM in June and were up 0.4% QoQ in Q2, indicating some resilience in underlying domestic demand.

• Manufacturing orders fell -1.8% MoM, while non-manufacturing (ex-volatile) orders rose 1.8% MoM in June.

• Government orders surged 25.2% MoM, reversing declines in March and April, whereas foreign orders fell -6.4% MoM.

• Looking ahead, total machinery orders are forecast to rise 3.7% QoQ in Q3, but core private-sector orders are expected to decline -4.0% QoQ, suggesting softer private sector investment in the coming quarter.

Japan machinery orders rose 3.8% MoM in May 2025, rebounding after two months of declines, but the overall Q2 forecast still points to a -1.6% QoQ contraction.

• Core private-sector orders (ex-volatile) dipped -0.6% MoM (vs -1.5% MoM expected) in May after a sharp +13.0% gain in March and a -9.1% decline in April.
• Manufacturing orders fell -1.8% MoM, while non-manufacturing (ex-volatile) edged up 1.8% MoM.
• Government orders surged 25.2% MoM, reversing a -12.4% drop in April and -31.0% in March.
• Foreign orders fell -6.4% MoM following an 8.6% MoM rise in April.
• Core private-sector orders are forecast to decline -2.1% QoQ in Q2, signaling softness in domestic capital investment.