Japan's machine tool orders fell 6.7% year-on-year in July 2012

According to Japanese media reports, on August 20, 2012, the Japan Machine Tool Industry Association (referred to as the Japan Trade Union) announced that the actual (reported value) of machine tool orders in July 2012 was 105.732 billion yen (about 1.33216 billion US dollars), a year-on-year increase of 105.732 billion yen. It decreased by 6.7%. Although it showed a downward trend for three consecutive months, it exceeded the monthly order target of the Japan Machine Tool Industry Association in 2012 by 100 billion yen (about 1,259.94 million US dollars) for six consecutive months. External demand accounted for 70% of orders, of which Chinese orders exceeded 30 billion yen (about 377.98 million yen) for the first time in 13 months. Although North American orders maintained a high level, due to factors such as the depreciation of the euro, European orders fell to 8.785 billion yen (about 110.69 million US dollars), a decrease of 36.7% year-on-year. Domestic orders were 32.437 billion yen (about 408.69 million US dollars), a decrease of 9.3% year-on-year, showing a downward trend for two consecutive months. Although the orders for automobiles fell below 10 billion yen (about 125.99 million US dollars) for the first time in three months, the orders for finished vehicles were 4.117 billion yen (about 51.87 million US dollars), an increase of 17.9% year-on-year. It has shown an upward trend for 5 consecutive months. Note: The real-time exchange rate used in this paper is 1 USD u003d 79.3690 yen.