FY 2026 Capital Investment Plans: 56.7% of Companies Have Plans, Decreasing for Three Consecutive Years Amid Uncertainty
According to a Teikoku Databank survey, the percentage of companies planning capital investment for fiscal year 2026 fell to 56.7%, marking the third year of decline. External factors such as the unstable situation in the Middle East are dampening investment appetite, particularly among SMEs regarding digital transformation. Most planned investments are focused on replacing existing equipment.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 22, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 28, 2026 at 14:00 (147h 28m after Collected)
Teikoku Databank, Ltd. conducted an annual survey on "Capital Investment" targeting 23,083 companies nationwide. This survey has been conducted every April since 2017, making this the 10th iteration.
## Current Status of Capital Investment Plans
For fiscal year 2026 (April 2026 to March 2027), 56.7% of companies responded that they have capital investment plans (including those already implemented, planned, or under consideration). This represents a 0.7-point decrease from the previous year's 57.4%, marking the third consecutive year of decline. Conversely, the average planned investment amount rose to 130.43 million yen, an increase of 6.14 million yen from the previous year.
By company size, 70.7% of large enterprises maintained their investment plans, while the rate for SMEs was 54.3% and only 42.0% for small businesses, continuing the trend where smaller companies show lower investment intent.
## Investment Objectives and Background
While some companies cited specific plans like building new factories or upgrading air conditioning systems, 50.2% of those without plans attributed their decision to an "unclear outlook." In particular, the worsening situation in the Middle East has increased uncertainty, causing many to postpone investment decisions.
## Gap in Digital Investment
In terms of investment content, "replacement of equipment" was the most prominent at 59.0%. While 35.1% of companies are considering "digital investment" (DX and AI-related), a gap exists between large enterprises (51.3%) and SMEs (31.4%). SMEs expressed concerns over whether they could achieve sufficient cost-effectiveness and highlighted the difficulty of taking the plunge with limited capital.
## Funding Methods
"Internal funds" remained the primary method of financing at 58.3%. Loans from financial institutions (long-term and short-term combined) accounted for 26.6%, while subsidies and grants stood at 6.2%. Internal funds and loans together comprise over 80% of total financing.
## Current Status of Capital Investment Plans
For fiscal year 2026 (April 2026 to March 2027), 56.7% of companies responded that they have capital investment plans (including those already implemented, planned, or under consideration). This represents a 0.7-point decrease from the previous year's 57.4%, marking the third consecutive year of decline. Conversely, the average planned investment amount rose to 130.43 million yen, an increase of 6.14 million yen from the previous year.
By company size, 70.7% of large enterprises maintained their investment plans, while the rate for SMEs was 54.3% and only 42.0% for small businesses, continuing the trend where smaller companies show lower investment intent.
## Investment Objectives and Background
While some companies cited specific plans like building new factories or upgrading air conditioning systems, 50.2% of those without plans attributed their decision to an "unclear outlook." In particular, the worsening situation in the Middle East has increased uncertainty, causing many to postpone investment decisions.
## Gap in Digital Investment
In terms of investment content, "replacement of equipment" was the most prominent at 59.0%. While 35.1% of companies are considering "digital investment" (DX and AI-related), a gap exists between large enterprises (51.3%) and SMEs (31.4%). SMEs expressed concerns over whether they could achieve sufficient cost-effectiveness and highlighted the difficulty of taking the plunge with limited capital.
## Funding Methods
"Internal funds" remained the primary method of financing at 58.3%. Loans from financial institutions (long-term and short-term combined) accounted for 26.6%, while subsidies and grants stood at 6.2%. Internal funds and loans together comprise over 80% of total financing.
FAQ
2026年度に設備投資計画がある企業の割合は？
56.7％です。前年比で0.7ポイント減となり、3年連続で低下しています。
設備投資の内容で最も多いものは何ですか？
「設備の代替（入れ替え・交換・更新）」が59.0％で突出して高くなっています。
『デジタル投資』を予定している企業の割合は？
全体では35.1％です。大企業では51.3％に達しますが、中小企業では31.4％にとどまっています。
主な資金調達方法は何ですか？
「自己資金」が58.3％で最も高く、次いで金融機関からの「借り入れ」が計26.6％となっています。
設備投資を予定していない企業の主な理由は何ですか？
50.2％の企業が「先行きが見通せない」ことを理由に挙げています。