China's machine tool and tool industry recorded operating revenue of 340.1 billion yuan in the first four months of 2026, up 6.5% year on year, according to the monthly bulletin published by China Machine Tool & Tool Builders' Association (CMTBA).
The split by segment continues to diverge. Metal cutting machine tools grew 13.5% year on year, while metal forming machine tools declined 6.1%.
Order indicators were mixed but improving: new orders for metal cutting and forming machine tools fell 1.1% year on year, while the order backlog rose 2.5%.
Output of metal cutting machine tools by industrial enterprises above designated size reached 297,000 units, up 4.2%; metal forming machine tool output was 59,000 units, up 3.5%.
Trade
Total imports and exports of machine tool and tool products reached US$11.27 billion, up 6.4%. Imports were US$3.53 billion (+5.4%) and exports US$7.74 billion (+6.9%). Within metal cutting machine tools, imports fell 2.0% to US$1.59 billion while exports rose 1.7% to US$1.94 billion.
