China holds 97% of humanoid robot shipments, report says

Chinese manufacturers commanded more than 97% of global humanoid robot shipments in the first half of 2026, according to new data from California-based research firm Smart Analytics Global, underscoring the country's overwhelming dominance in a sector projected to reshape global manufacturing.

Global humanoid robot shipments totaled roughly 19,100 units in the first half of 2026, more than triple the 5,100 units shipped in the same period last year, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The research firm expects shipments to rise to around 60,000 units this year and reach half a million by 2030.bloomberg+1

Agibot Takes the Lead

Shanghai-based Agibot overtook Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics to claim the top spot, capturing 44% of global market share with 8,400 units shipped in the six-month period, compared with Unitree's 5,900 units. Their volumes dwarf shipments from top US companies such as Tesla ↗ 0.32%, Figure AI, and Agility Robotics.theedgemarkets

An important shift is underway in how the robots are being used. "Industrial and commercial applications accounted for more than 70% of shipments, up from approximately 50% a year earlier," said Linda Sui, founder and principal researcher at Smart Analytics Global.theedgemarkets

Supply Chain Depth and State Support

China's lead rests on structural advantages that are difficult for competitors to replicate. More than half of the hundred key global suppliers of components like reducers, servo motors, and 3D-vision sensors are Chinese, allowing domestic makers to build faster and far more cheaply than rivals who must import the same parts. Government policy has treated humanoid robotics as a strategic priority, with subsidies, procurement mandates, and coordinated research funding accelerating development.thenextweb+1

Global investment in humanoid robotics startups reached $4.39 billion in just the first half of 2026, a six-month figure that by some analyses exceeds total capital invested in the sector over the entire previous decade. Morgan Stanley ↘ 0.89% now projects 50,000 units shipped from China this year.cryptobriefing

US Responds With Import Ban

In late July, the US government banned imports of new Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots, citing national security and cybersecurity risks to critical AI infrastructure. The ban was implemented through the FCC, following the pattern of restrictions previously applied to Chinese telecommunications equipment and connected vehicles.cryptobriefing+1

Despite the scale of shipments, many robots rolling off Chinese production lines remain more suited to demonstrations than reliable commercial work. Yet as Linda Sui noted, regulatory uncertainty and geopolitical risks could shape the industry's next phase of growth — even as the sheer volume of machines being built gives Chinese firms a compounding advantage in data collection, cost reduction, and supplier relationships that may prove difficult to overcome.theedgemarkets+1