Post by : Badri Ariffin

Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers accounted for more than 97% of global shipments in the first half of 2026, highlighting the country’s early lead over US competitors in the rapidly growing industry.

Global humanoid robot shipments reached about 19,100 units between January and June 2026, more than three times the 5,100 units shipped during the same period in 2025, according to data from Smart Analytics Global (SAG) carried by Bloomberg.

SAG expects the global market to expand further, with annual humanoid robot shipments projected to reach around 60,000 units in 2026 and 500,000 units by 2030.

Agibot Overtakes Unitree in Global Shipments

Shanghai-based Agibot emerged as the leading humanoid robot maker during the first half of 2026, overtaking Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics.

Agibot shipped around 8,400 units, giving it a 44% share of global shipments during the six-month period. Unitree Robotics followed with approximately 5,900 units.

The shipment figures for the two Chinese companies were significantly higher than those of leading US manufacturers, including Tesla Inc., Figure AI Inc. and Agility Robotics Inc.

Industrial and Commercial Use Drives Demand

The data also shows a shift in where humanoid robots are being deployed. Industrial and commercial applications accounted for more than 70% of global shipments in the first half of 2026, compared with about 50% a year earlier.

Linda Sui, founder and principal researcher at Smart Analytics Global, said the increase reflects the growing role of humanoid robots in industrial and commercial applications.

Sui also noted that regulatory uncertainty and geopolitical risks could influence the industry’s next stage of growth.

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