KR Market | Monthly Machine Tool Orders in August 2026
1. Key Highlights
- Orders declined month on month but increased year on year: August orders totaled KRW 365.1 billion, down 1.0% from July but up 57.2% year on year. Cumulative orders for January–August increased 26.4% year on year.
- Production fell substantially from July: August production totaled KRW 231.2 billion, down 14.0% month on month but up 18.6% year on year. Cumulative production increased 10.4% year on year.
- Cumulative exports posted only modest growth: August exports totaled approximately US$183 million, down 3.2% month on month but up 15.5% year on year. January–August exports reached US$1.461 billion, up 0.7% year on year.
- Imports rebounded in August but remained lower cumulatively: August imports totaled approximately US$74 million, up 6.4% month on month but down 7.1% year on year. Cumulative imports reached US$536 million, down 10.0% year on year.
- Trends diverged across machine types and markets: Machining center exports fell 22.2% month on month, while laser processing machine exports increased 52.2%. Exports to the United States, China, and Germany increased, while shipments to India and Vietnam declined.
2. Overall Market Performance in August
| Indicator | August 2026 | Month-on-Month Change | Year-on-Year Change | January–August 2026 | Cumulative Year-on-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orders | KRW 365.1 billion | −1.0% | +57.2% | KRW 2,602.2 billion | +26.4% |
| Production | KRW 231.2 billion | −14.0% | +18.6% | KRW 1,719.9 billion | +10.4% |
| Shipments | KRW 256.4 billion | — | +13.0% | KRW 2,061.7 billion | +8.7% |
| Exports | US$183 million | −3.2% | +15.5% | US$1,461 million | +0.7% |
| Imports | US$74 million | +6.4% | −7.1% | US$536 million | −10.0% |
*Note: Orders, production, and shipments are based on KOMMA member company statistics, while exports and imports are based on Korea Customs Service statistics.
3. Orders, Production, Exports, and Imports by Machine Tool Category
All percentage changes below are month on month.
| Category | Orders (KRW billion) | Monthly Change | Production (KRW billion) | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC metal-cutting machine tools | 358.4 | −0.6% | 214.5 | −14.8% |
| Conventional metal-cutting machine tools | 4.6 | −15.5% | 24.9 | −14.6% |
| Metal-forming machine tools | 2.1 | −18.2% | 14.9 | −1.9% |
| Category | Exports (US$ million) | Monthly Change | Imports (US$ million) | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC metal-cutting machine tools | 129 | −3.9% | 52 | +9.9% |
| Conventional metal-cutting machine tools | 7 | −35.5% | 9 | +46.2% |
| Metal-forming machine tools | 47 | +7.6% | 12 | −20.9% |
*,Note: Import categories total US$73 million, compared with the reported total of US$74 million. This difference may reflect rounding.
4. Orders by End-User Industry
Unit: KRW billion. Percentage changes are month on month.
| End-User Industry | August Orders | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive | 52.3 | −16.2% |
| General machinery | 25.9 | −16.1% |
| Electrical equipment, electronics, and IT | 18.6 | +1.1% |
| Precision machinery | 4.2 | −33.0% |
| Steel and nonferrous metals | 3.1 | +231.5% |
| Shipbuilding and aviation | 2.0 | −70.5% |
| Metal products | 0.9 | −57.5% |
Orders from the automotive and general machinery industries both declined approximately 16% from July, while orders from electrical equipment, electronics, and IT increased slightly. Although steel and nonferrous metals recorded strong percentage growth, orders totaled only KRW 3.1 billion; the value should therefore be considered alongside the growth rate.
5. Major Machine Types Exported and Imported
Unit: US$ million. Percentage changes are month on month.
| Major Export Category | August Exports | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|
| NC lathes | 61 | −1.9% |
| Machining centers | 31 | −22.2% |
| Laser processing machines | 27 | +52.2% |
| Presses | 22 | +23.7% |
| Shearing, punching, and notching machines | 15 | +53.4% |
| Major Import Category | August Imports | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|
| Laser processing machines | 20 | +25.8% |
| Machining centers | 10 | −21.2% |
| NC grinding machines | 6 | +73.3% |
| Bending machines | 6 | +105.5% |
| NC milling machines | 5 | +707.8% |
6. Top Five Export Markets and Import Sources
Unit: US$ million. Percentage changes are month on month.
| Export Market | August Exports | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 58.4 | +22.1% |
| China | 21.9 | +8.8% |
| Germany | 14.9 | +70.1% |
| India | 14.2 | −52.7% |
| Vietnam | 9.1 | −22.8% |
| Import Source | August Imports | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 24.6 | +2.3% |
| China | 20.9 | −25.6% |
| Germany | 8.6 | +51.2% |
| Austria | 4.6 | +2,264.6% |
| Switzerland |
*This article is compiled by Korea Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association (KOMMA) and reprinted from SIMTOS Official Website:
Source: https://www.simtos.org/kor/media/info_view.do?BIdx=7234
