South Korean media: China accounts for 97% of global humanoid robot sales in the first half of the year
According to a report by South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo (Japanese edition) on August 11: Chinese robotics companies captured over 97% of global humanoid robot shipments in the first half of this year, far surpassing their U.S. competitors. The influence of Chinese firms in the humanoid robot market is rapidly expanding.
Bloomberg cited data from market research firm Smart Analytics Global (SAG) on the 10th, stating that global humanoid robot shipments reached approximately 19,100 units in the first half of this year—more than three times the 5,100 units shipped during the same period last year.
In terms of individual companies, Agibot, headquartered in Shanghai, ranked first with 8,400 units, accounting for 44% of the total. Unitree Robotics, which led the market last year, shipped 5,900 units, representing 31%. Other Chinese companies such as Leju Robotics and Zhongqing Robotics each secured over 20% of the market share.
By comparison, even when combining sales from Tesla, Figure AI, Agility Robotics, and other U.S.-based firms, their combined market share remained below 3%.
SAG forecasts that global humanoid robot shipments will reach 60,000 units this year, increasing to 500,000 units by 2030. Chinese companies are actively competing for market share through commercialization, with 70% of these robots being used in industrial and commercial applications.
At last month’s World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) held in Shanghai, dozens of robotics companies unveiled new products and related technologies. Companies introduced a range of new models that not only improved the precision and speed of hand movements but also enhanced their ability to perform tasks.
In recent years, the number of deployed humanoid robots in real-world industrial and commercial environments has risen sharply, moving beyond mere demonstrations and research and development. Products used for industrial and commercial purposes now account for over 70% of total shipments—a significant increase from around 50% a year ago.
However, as the United States tightens regulations on Chinese robotics, this could become a variable affecting Chinese enterprises’ expansion into overseas markets. At the end of last month, the U.S. restricted imports of Chinese humanoid quadruped robots and certain related components, citing alleged “national security concerns” and “cybersecurity risks associated with core artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.” Regulatory uncertainty and geopolitical risks may shape the future direction of the humanoid robotics industry.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873191846884352/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.