
Industrial Robot Orders Rebound: Japan Forecasts First Increase in Three Years
Japan’s Industrial Robot Market Rebounds After Slump
Orders for industrial robots appear to be bottoming out. The Japan Robot Association predicts that annual orders for industrial robots (including non-members) in 2025 will reach 870 billion yen, up 4.6% from the previous year—marking the first increase in three years. Although there are concerns about the Trump administration’s tariff policies and restraints on capital investment, orders are currently trending favorably.
Chairman Yasuhiko Hashimoto (President of Kawasaki Heavy Industries) expressed his optimism: “Although there are some concerns, we are also taking into consideration the positive aspects of the market and are determined to aim for the figure we announced at the beginning of the year.”
Advertisement | |
Strong Growth in Early 2025 Signals Recovery
The order value for industrial robots in the January–March period of 2025 was 209.1 billion yen, up 32.2% from the same period the previous year. Production value reached 198.6 billion yen, up 22.2% year-on-year. These double-digit increases represent the third consecutive quarter of growth in both order volume and production, which Chairman Hashimoto described as “very successful.”
Segment and Export Markets Show Signs of Strength
Electronic component mounting machines exhibited a strong recovery, while manipulating robots—particularly vertical articulated models—are also experiencing a rebound. Exports to China, which had previously been sluggish, are now increasing as capital investment expands. Exports to North America rose as well, driven by demand for material handling and welding robots. This marked the first year-on-year increase in seven quarters.
Cautious Optimism Despite Geopolitical Risks
This growth trend is expected to continue throughout 2025, supported by sustained global demand for automation. However, geopolitical risks remain a concern. The unstable global trade environment—shaped by U.S. tariff policies and intensifying trade tensions between the U.S. and China—continues to pose challenges for the robotics industry.
Chairman Hashimoto concluded: “In the short term, there are political concerns, but as our track record shows, we will consider the positive aspects of the market. Orders are expected to increase 4.6% from last year to 870 billion yen, and production volume will increase accordingly to 830 billion yen. This is what we are aiming for.”
#IndustrialRobots #RobotOrders2025 #AutomationTrends #MReportTH #IndustryNews
Source: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun
อ่านข่าวยอดนิยม คลิกที่นี่
อัปเดตข่าวทุกวันที่นี่ www.mreport.co.th
Line / Facebook / X / YouTube @MreportTH