- China installed 354,000 industrial robots in 2025, up 20% year-on-year and representing 59% of global installations.
- IFR Secretary General Susanne Bieler identified physical AI as a key direction for the next phase of robotics development.
- Chinese domestic suppliers captured 55% of the market with 195,000 units installed, maintaining their majority share since 2024.
Record Installations
China deployed 354,000 industrial robots in 2025, up 20 percent from 2024 and accounting for 59 percent of all global installations, according to the World Robotics 2026 report released by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) on September 24. The figure was nearly 60,000 units higher than the previous annual record, cementing China's position as the world's largest industrial robot market.
Demand was led by three sectors: electrical and electronics (96,400 units, up 16%), automotive (78,900 units, up 38% to a record), and metal and machinery (78,700 units, up 44%). Chinese domestic suppliers installed 195,000 units, giving them a 55-percent market share, while foreign supplier installations rose 27 percent.
Physical AI as Next Growth Driver
IFR Secretary General Susanne Bieler stated that China is becoming an important force in robot technology innovation, not just the largest market. In an interview with Xinhua, she highlighted physical artificial intelligence as a key direction for the industry's next phase of development, noting that robots are becoming an important carrier for AI technology entering real production environments.
Bieler observed that Chinese enterprises are deepening their understanding of different industrial needs and application scenarios, converting technological innovation more quickly into products adapted to specific production requirements. The IFR forecasts annual growth of 5 to 10 percent on average through 2029, driven by demographic changes and labor shortages.
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