AI-related demand is driving Japan's industrial machine tool backlog to historic highs. According to statistics from the Japan Machine Tool Builders' Association (located in Minato Ward, Tokyo), the backlog exceeded 1 trillion yen as of the end of August. To address the backlog, manufacturers such as Shibaura Machine are ramping up production. Data released on October 9 showed that machine tool orders in September rose 60% year-on-year to 223.2 billion yen, marking the 15th consecutive month of year-on-year growth and setting a new record for monthly orders.
