China Has Built 97% of the World's Humanoid Robots, What Is Still Missing?

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Gasgoo Munich-"The latest data shows that China accounts for 97% of global humanoid robot exports and manufacturing."

Jin Bing, a former deputy director and first-class inspector at the State Post Bureau’s policy and regulations department, cited those figures on September 9 during the Converged Intelligent Industry Development Conference (2026).

For years, the industry was still proving whether humanoid robots could even be built. Walking, running, jumping, and the ability of dexterous hands to grasp objects were often the most direct calling cards for a robotics company.

By 2026, however, the questions keeping the industry awake are shifting. Data presented by Jin shows global shipments of general-purpose humanoid robots reached about 18,000 units in 2025, while China is expected to ship 62,500 units domestically in 2026. Production lines capable of 10,000 units are already up and running, and deliveries by leading players have quickly surged from hundreds to thousands—and beyond.

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Image source: Screenshot from Deputy Director Jin Bing’s presentation

Humanoid robots are transitioning from laboratory curiosities into genuine industrial products. That shift is already visible in the data. The State Taxation Administration previously disclosed that revenue for China’s embodied intelligence sector climbed 22.4% year-on-year in the first five months of 2026. Robot manufacturers saw a 30.1% jump, while AI algorithm and software integrators rose 24.5%, and system integration firms grew 27.9%.

Beyond the OEMs, the upstream supply chain is heating up as well.

Motors, batteries, reducers, lead screws, sensors, and structural components—along with the vast supplier network that once served the automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial automation sectors—are all pivoting toward humanoid robotics. The manufacturing prowess China has accumulated over decades is rapidly absorbing this new industry.