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On January 19, 2026, the National Bureau of Statistics of China released data showing that from January to December 2025, the national output of industrial robots reached 773,074 units, a year-on-year increase of 28.0%; the annual output of service robots reached 18,581,081 units, a year-on-year increase of 16.1%.
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Looking at the monthly data, the growth rate in December (14.7%) was significantly lower than the annual average, which may be related to the adjustment of production schedules at the end of the year and seasonal factors in some industries, but it still maintained double-digit growth.
Furthermore, the growth rate of industrial robots (28.0%) significantly outpaced that of service robots (16.1%), indicating that, comparatively, the demand for intelligent transformation in the manufacturing industry is stronger, and the upgrading of industrial automation is accelerating.
From a driving force perspective, the intelligent manufacturing project is progressing steadily, the number of smart factories is increasing steadily, and the integration and application of the Industrial Internet fully covers 41 major industrial sectors.
In terms of market demand, the amount spent by manufacturing enterprises on purchasing automation equipment increased by 11.3% year-on-year, accelerating the process of intelligent transformation and digital upgrading, directly driving the growth in demand for industrial robots.
It is worth noting that the rapid development of AI and embodied intelligence technologies has led to improved performance and reduced costs for industrial robots, and their application scenarios are constantly expanding, penetrating from traditional automotive and electronics industries to more fields such as new energy, pharmaceuticals, and food.
Industrial robot exports are also continuing to grow. On January 14, Wang Jun, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs, introduced that by 2025, China's exports of high-tech products will increase by 13.2%, and industrial robot exports will increase by 48.7%, exceeding imports for the first time, making my country a net exporter of industrial robots.
Export-driven growth has become an important factor in driving production growth, demonstrating my country's solid position as a global manufacturing center and a key node in the industrial chain.
In recent years, as the world's largest robot producer, my country holds two-thirds of the world's valid robot patents, achieving collective breakthroughs in key core technologies. The development of the industrial robot industry has driven coordinated growth across the upstream and downstream sectors.