According to the latest data from market research firm Smart Analytics Global (SAG), cited today (the 10th) by Bloomberg, China has achieved an overwhelming shipment lead in the global humanoid robot market. In the first half of 2026, Chinese manufacturers accounted for more than 97% of global humanoid robot shipments, with AgiBot and Unitree Robotics taking the top two spots and clearly outpacing U.S. competitors such as Tesla, Figure AI, and Agility Robotics.
Approximately 19,100 humanoid robots were shipped worldwide in the first half of this year, more than double the 5,100 units shipped during the same period last year. SAG expects full-year shipments to increase further to approximately 60,000 units and reach 500,000 units by 2030.
AgiBot shipped 8,400 units in the first half of the year, surpassing Unitree Robotics with a 44% share of the global market and taking the top spot for the first time; Unitree Robotics shipped 5,900 units during the same period, ranking second. The shipment volumes of the two Chinese companies have left leading U.S. manufacturers far behind, also highlighting the rapid expansion of China’s humanoid robot industry.
At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference held last month, dozens of robot manufacturers showcased new advances in dexterity, speed, and functionality, underscoring the important role of humanoid robots in China’s AI industry strategy.
At the same time, the applications of humanoid robots are also changing rapidly, moving beyond the demonstration and experimental stages. Linda Sui, founder and chief research analyst at SAG, said: “Industrial and commercial applications now account for more than 70% of shipments, compared with only about 50% a year ago.”
At a State Council Information Office press conference last month, Wang Weiming, chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, noted that with joint efforts in all areas, the role of new growth drivers in emerging industries has continued to become more prominent. In the field of intelligent robotics, quadruped robots developed in China account for nearly 70% of global sales, while more than 400 humanoid robot products have been developed, representing over half of the global total.