AI Demand Drives Japan's Industrial Machine Tool Backlog to Surpass 1 Trillion Yen

Demand related to AI is becoming the primary driver pushing industrial machine tool backlogs to record highs. According to statistics from the Japan Working Machinery Association (JWMA, based in Minato Ward, Tokyo), as of the end of August, Japan's industrial machine tool backlog exceeded 1 trillion yen. To clear accumulated orders, manufacturers such as Mazak are ramping up production. Data released by the JWMA on October 9 shows that September machine tool order values (preliminary figures) rose 60% year-on-year to 223.2 billion yen. Order values have increased for 15 consecutive months, with single-month order volumes breaking all-time records. (Sina Finance)