Forecast: Japan's machine tool orders will reach 850 billion yen in 2010

According to the prediction of the Japan Machine Tool Manufacturers Association (JMTBA), in 2010 Japan's machine tool orders will reach 850 billion yen, which is higher than the previous forecast of 650 billion yen. This forecast will increase by 110% from the actual volume of orders for the entire year of 2009.

Kenchi Nakamura, chairman of JMTBA, said at a news conference that the association’s expectations for orders have been raised due to better-than-expected demand growth from China and its Asian countries and regions.

From January to June 2010, Japan's machine tool orders amounted to 440.9 billion yen, surpassing 411.8 billion yen for the entire year of 2009. The amount of orders in the first half of the year increased by 200% compared to the same period in 2009.