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. 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.