Humanoid robotics sales booming as China captures 97pc of market
The analytics firm said general-purpose, home-service humanoid robotics, something Meta is working towards with its recent acquisition of Assured Robot Intelligence, is unlikely to reach mass market scale in the next five years.
Key takeaways
- Humanoid‑robot activity has surged in the second half of 2026, driven by a sharp U.S.–China rivalry and explosive growth in China’s domestic market.
- On July 28 the White House barred imports of next‑generation Chinese mobile robots, including humanoids, citing national‑security concerns, while Chinese firms have captured roughly 97 % of global shipments in the first half of the year.
- Shanghai‑based AgiBot overtook Unitree Robotics to become the world’s largest vendor, shipping about 8,400 units (44 % of the market) and posting a 562 % year‑on‑year increase, while Unitree fell to second place with 5,900 units (31 %).
- Overall global shipments jumped 272 % to 19,100 units in H1 2026, with analysts forecasting around 60,000 units for the full year and half a million by 2030, and revenue expected to rise from $1.6 billion in 2026 to over $50 billion by 2035.
- The bulk of deployments now serve industrial and commercial roles—manufacturing, warehousing, logistics and commercial services—accounting for more than 70 % of shipments, though pilot home‑service programs are emerging, such as Tau Robotics’ $30‑per‑hour cleaning service for San Francisco households.
The analytics firm said general-purpose, home-service humanoid robotics, something Meta is working towards with its recent acquisition of Assured Robot Intelligence, is unlikely to reach mass market scale in the next five years. Reports suggest that Meta has made “significant” investments in this category, with goals to create humanoid robotic hardware to help with household chores.
Recent US restrictions on foreign-made robots could create additional issues for Chinese sellers looking to expand into mature markets, the report found. Similarly, the EU’s scrutiny over AI applications across autonomous robots in manufacturing and personal assistance also places hurdles for growth. Silicon Republic
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by Suhasini Srinivasaragavan
10 Aug 2026
Two humanoid robots hitting each other in a boxing match.
Unitree humanoid robots in a boxing match. Image: Unitree, 2025
Industrial and commercial applications accounted for more than 70pc of humanoid robot shipments in the first half of this year. Humanoid robot global sales have skyrocketed 272pc in a year as maturing robotics technology proves its use in industrial settings, a new report has found.
China remains the centre of this blossoming industry, holding more than 97pc of the market, while representing more than 85pc of global demand.
Total sales are further expected to triple year-over-year across 2026 to around 60,000 units, reported Smart Analytics Global (SAG), with industry-wide revenue expected to hit more than $1.6bn. The sector is expected to grow from nearly $5.5bn in 2026 to more than $50bn by 2035.
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