Industrial robots are set to reach a peak in demand.-Qiqiu Industrial Robot Co., Ltd., Chao’an District, Chaozhou City – Stamping Robotic Arm

Industrial robots are set to reach a peak in demand.

Release date:

2023-03-07

According to the latest data released by the China Robot Industry Alliance, in December 2022, industrial robot production among large-scale industrial enterprises nationwide reached 40,000 units; from January to December 2022, cumulative industrial robot output for these enterprises totaled 443,000 units...

Industrial robots are set to reach a peak in demand.

According to the latest data released by the China Robot Industry Alliance, in December 2022, industrial robot production among nationwide industrial enterprises above designated size reached 40,000 units; for the period January–December 2022, cumulative industrial robot output totaled 443,000 units.

Meanwhile, in December 2022, China’s exports of industrial robot equipment totaled US$50 million, while imports amounted to US$180 million. From January to December 2022, the cumulative value of China’s industrial robot equipment exports reached US$610 million, with imports totaling US$2.0 billion, resulting in a cumulative trade deficit of US$1.39 billion.

In 2022, China’s industrial robot sales are expected to exceed 300,000 units, accounting for more than 50% of global sales. Despite a slowdown in growth compared with 2021 due to the combined impact of multiple factors, China’s share of the global market continues to expand, underscoring the robust development trajectory of its industrial robotics sector.

The “14th Five-Year Plan” for the robotics industry sets a target to double China’s manufacturing robot density by 2025, relative to 2020 levels. At that time, the country’s manufacturing robot density stood at 246 units per 10,000 workers, implying a need to reach approximately 500 units per 10,000 workers—equivalent to at least one million robots—underscoring substantial room for future growth.

In 2023, with the full lifting of pandemic restrictions, industries such as 3C electronics and food & beverage are expected to grow in tandem with the recovery of consumer spending. Meanwhile, the new‑energy vehicle sector will continue to expand, and emerging sectors like lithium‑ion batteries, photovoltaics, and semiconductors will experience rapid advancement. As a result, China’s industrial robot market is poised to reach a demand peak, driven by continuous technological breakthroughs across the industry chain and deeper, broader applications, while new niche segments continue to broaden their horizons.