Japan's core machinery orders received by the private sector fell seasonally adjusted 9.4% in March from the previous month, the Cabinet Office reported Thursday.
Including volatile orders of ships and electric power companies, total orders by the private sector dropped 5.3%.
The total country's machinery orders by 280 manufacturers increased on a seasonally adjusted 4.3% in March.
Meanwhile, orders from manufacturing companies plummeted more than 14% in March, while non-manufacturing orders declined 6%, the report said.