Humanoid robots sales to triple as China captures 97pc of market

Unitree humanoid robots have experienced a 272% surge in sales in the past year, according to a recent report by Smart Analytics Global (SAG). The report predicts that sales will triple by 2026, reaching approximately 60,000 units, with industry-wide revenue expected to surpass $1.6bn. China dominates the market, holding over 97% of the market share and accounting for more than 85% of global demand.

More than 70% of humanoid robot shipments in the first half of the year were due to industrial and commercial applications, up from 50% last year. Shanghai-based Agibot has overtaken Unitree to become the world's largest humanoid robot vendor, capturing 44% of the global market, with Unitree, Galbot, Shenzen's Ubtech, and Guangdong's Leju rounding out the top five.

The report notes that advanced use cases, such as bionic humanoid robots designed for human interaction, face technological and regulatory hurdles, limiting growth potential. US restrictions on foreign-made robots and the EU's scrutiny of AI applications in autonomous robots may further hinder market expansion. Meanwhile, US tech giants like Amazon are also venturing into the humanoid robot market.