China reports 5% industrial robot installation growth as US, EU fall

In 2024, China’s industrial robot installations grew by 5% to approximately 290,000 units, capturing 54% of the global market, up from 51% in 2023. This growth occurred despite a global decline in robot installations, with Japan, the US, and the EU experiencing decreases of 7%, 9%, and 6% respectively. China’s surge is driven by its strategic push to upgrade manufacturing through automation, shifting from labor-intensive methods to technology-driven growth. In the first half of 2025, China’s industrial robot production rose 35.6% year-on-year, reaching nearly 370,000 units. The country also improved its global robot density ranking, moving to third place with 470 robots per 10,000 workers in 2023, up from ninth place in 2020. Beyond traditional sectors like electronics and automotive, China is expanding robot adoption into general industries, which accounted for 53% of installations in 202