September 2026 construction orders at the 50 major contractors fell 11.1% in total, with private works down for a seventh straight monthWork won by the big construction firms was 11.1% lower than in September last year
On October 30 MLIT released the Statistical Survey on Construction Works Orders Received (survey of the 50 major contractors) for September 2026 (Reiwa 8). Private works fell 14.6% year on year, a seventh consecutive monthly decline, as services, mining and quarrying of stone and gravel together with construction, and electricity, gas, heat supply and water all fell. The total fell 11.1% year on year, a third consecutive monthly decline. When orders at prime contractors thin out, the volume of work for subcontractors follows some months later, so these figures matter for reading cash flow ahead.
Key points
- Private works fell 14.6% year on year, a seventh consecutive monthly decline
- The total fell 11.1% year on year, a third consecutive monthly decline
- The release cites declines in services, mining and quarrying of stone and gravel together with construction, and electricity, gas, heat supply and water as reasons for the fall in private works
- This survey covers the 50 major contractors and is not the order value of the whole industry. The responsible office is the Construction Economy Statistics Office, Information Policy Division, Policy Bureau
What to do in practice
- On the assumption that orders at the majors have been thinning for seven months, reset next period's expected orders and required working capital conservatively
- Check what share of sales depends on the client industries that are falling (services, electricity, gas and water) and consider spreading your client base if it is concentrated
Every month the government asks the 50 largest construction companies how much construction work they have been asked to do. In September 2026 the total was 11.1% lower than in the same month last year. Orders from companies and individuals, called private works, were 14.6% lower and have been falling for seven months in a row. When the big companies get less work, the smaller companies that take a share of it also feel it a little later.
Points
- Work won by the 50 largest construction companies was 11.1% lower in total than in September last year
- Orders from companies and individuals, called private works, were 14.6% lower and have fallen for seven months running
- These figures cover only the 50 largest companies, not all construction companies
What the words mean
- orders received
- Being asked to do a job. Here it is the value of construction work a company has been asked to carry out
- private works
- Construction ordered by companies or individuals rather than by the national or local government
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT): MLIT, Statistical Survey on Construction Works Orders Received (survey of the 50 major contractors), September 2026 (Reiwa 8)
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