In a definitive demonstration of its manufacturing transformation, China cemented its position as the world’s largest and fastest-growing market for industrial robots in 2013. The nation’s annual installation of robots surged by 59% to reach 36,560 units, with domestic China robot suppliers contributing a significant and rapidly expanding share, according to the latest statistical reports. This explosive growth underscores a strategic national push towards automation across virtually all consumer and industrial sectors.
The annual installation figure of 36,560 units for China robot integration includes approximately 9,000 units supplied by domestic China robot manufacturers, a number nearly three times higher than in 2012. Foreign robot suppliers also saw their sales rise by 20%. The broader trend is even more striking: between 2008 and 2013, the average annual growth rate for industrial robot installations in China was approximately 36%. By the end of 2013, the cumulative number of industrial robots installed in China reached approximately 132,800 units, a 37% increase from the previous year, positioning China as the fifth-largest market worldwide by operational stock. Analysts note that the actual cumulative number may be higher, with conservative estimates exceeding 134,000 units, signaling an accelerating pace of automation.
Sources and Methodology
The statistical foundation for tracking the China robot market has evolved to become more comprehensive. Since 1999, installation data has primarily been sourced from reports submitted by robot manufacturers. From 2004, all global suppliers began providing their data for a more complete picture. A significant milestone was reached in 2013 when data for China robot suppliers started to be supplied by the China Robot Industry Alliance (CRIA), while all other global robot vendors report directly to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). It is important to note that the 2013 figures of 36,560 units do not include Foxbot industrial robots produced by Foxconn Technology Group. The installation data for Foxbots within mainland China is unspecified but estimated to be between 10,000 and 30,000 units. However, robots that Foxconn purchases from international suppliers are included in the total. Furthermore, an unknown number of robots are exported from Germany, Japan, South Korea, and other countries annually and integrated into various systems within China.
Annual and Cumulative Installations: A Market in Hyperdrive
China’s ascent to the top of the annual installation ranking is a central narrative in the global robotics industry. The robust 59% growth in 2013 highlights the intense demand for automation solutions. A key driver of this growth is the emerging domestic China robot industry, whose installed base saw a near-tripling. While most robots are still imported from Japan, Europe, or North America, and domestic entities have historically focused on research with system integrators using foreign-made robots, a new wave of local China robot suppliers is entering the market and increasing their share of the total installation volume.
Substantial investment in the automotive sector, the world’s largest, has been a traditional engine for robot installation. However, the growth is now broadly based. China’s rapidly expanding consumer market is benefiting almost all industries, fueling demand for automation to produce a wider array of goods. The high growth rates present a clear indicator of China’s rapidly developing automation process.
Application Analysis: Material Handling Takes the Lead
The distribution of robots by application reveals shifting dynamics within the China robot market. In 2013, the installation of handling/manipulation robots, including machine tending, skyrocketed by 121% to approximately 14,500 units, claiming 40% of the annual market share. This remarkable surge is attributed to two factors: additional production from China robot suppliers and a significant increase in sales from foreign vendors.
Within this sector, applications in plastic molding (nearly 2,600 units) and machine tool tending (up 195% to nearly 3,400 units) were particularly strong. Material handling robot sales also rose by 124% to about 4,100 units. The growth of the domestic China robot industry directly led to substantial increases in robots for packaging/picking, for press/casting/bending processes, and for general loading/unloading tasks.
Welding robots, while growing at a slower pace of 21%, reached a new peak of 13,200 units, accounting for 36% of annual installations. The share of domestic China robot suppliers in this segment remains low. Arc welding robots, a crucial sub-category often used in auto components and metal industries, increased by 15% to about 7,500 units. Spot welding robots rose to nearly 4,700 units. Dispensing robot installations soared by 171% to nearly 3,000 units, while spraying robots increased by 41% to about 1,400 units. Assembly robots also saw significant growth, with installations nearing 3,300 units.
The cumulative installation data up to 2013 shows the historical dominance of welding, which constitutes 42% of all operational robots in China, with approximately 55,600 units. This includes some 33,900 arc welding and 19,300 spot welding robots. The spot welding figure is notably lower than in other major auto-producing nations. For instance, Germany had approximately 23,600 spot welding robots producing about 5.4 million cars, while China produced 18 million cars. This disparity indicates immense potential growth for spot welding robots in the China robot market to achieve similar automation density levels.
Handling/manipulation robots form the second-largest cumulative block at 35% (about 46,400 units), followed by assembly robots at 8% (about 10,400 units).
| Application Area | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2013/2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handling / Machine Tending | 2,972 | 1,616 | 3,725 | 6,135 | 6,555 | 14510 | 121% |
| Welding & Brazing | 3634 | 2,695 | 8,000 | 11,212 | 10,882 | 13188 | 21% |
| Dispensing | 433 | 441 | 864 | 1433 | 1100 | 2977 | 171% |
| Assembly & Disassembly | 110 | 124 | 892 | 2564 | 3166 | 3313 | 5% |
| Total | 7,879 | 5,525 | 14,978 | 22,577 | 22,987 | 36560 | 59% |
Industry Breakdown: Automotive Leads, Electronics Surges
The automotive industry remains the primary driver for robot adoption, accounting for 39% of the 2013 installations with about 14,200 units. Continuous investment has increased installations from 7,400 units in 2010. While this sector is a traditional stronghold for foreign robot brands, domestic China robot suppliers are gradually seeking entry.
A significant shift is the rapid growth in other sectors. The electrical/electronics industry saw installations more than double to about 6,700 units, claiming 18% of the market. The metal industry increased by 69% to around 3,700 units, and the rubber and plastics industry also doubled to approximately 2,700 units. Even the food and beverage sector showed remarkable growth, with installations nearing 1,000 units. This diversification proves that the demand for China robot solutions is expanding far beyond its traditional automotive base.
| Industry | 2012 | 2013 | 2013/2012 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive | 11,429 | 14,207 | 24% |
| Electrical / Electronics | 3,289 | 6,725 | 104% |
| Metal | 2,198 | 3,712 | 69% |
| Rubber & Plastics | 1,347 | 2,736 | 103% |
| Food, Beverage, Tobacco | 482 | 965 | 100% |
Robot Types: Articulated Robots Dominant, Domestic Production Shapes Segments
In terms of robot morphology, multi-jointed articulated robots are the most prevalent, accounting for 67.9% of 2013 installations with 25,400 units. However, the growth in other categories is heavily influenced by the rise of domestic manufacturing. Sales of SCARA robots increased by 67% to a record 4,262 units, while installations of linear/Cartesian/gantry robots surged by 226% to 6,027 units. The dramatic rise in these two categories is directly attributed to the significant volume of robots now produced within China itself. Parallel robot installations nearly doubled to 493 units.
| Robot Type / Year | 2012 | 2013 | 2013/2012 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 22,987 | 36,560 | 59% |
| Linear / Cartesian / Gantry | 1,848 | 6,027 | 226% |
| SCARA | 2,545 | 4,262 | 67% |
| Multi-jointed | 18,229 | 25,357 | 39% |
Outlook: Sustained Growth on the Horizon
The trajectory for the China robot market points decisively upward. With multiple institutions forecasting continued economic expansion in China, the fundamental drivers for automation remain strong. The Chinese government has placed high priority on developing and promoting its domestic robotics and automation industry. While a shortage of experienced system integrators currently exists, this landscape is expected to change in the coming years.
The trend towards automation ensures continued investment in the China robot sector by both domestic and foreign suppliers. Massive investments are expected to persist as industries seek to enhance productivity and establish more ecologically sustainable production systems. China’s status as one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets, coupled with rising demand from a new middle class for consumer goods, healthcare, and higher quality of life, underpins this growth.
Beyond modernizing existing production bases, industries are establishing new facilities to capture greater market share. Consequently, China is poised to become the world’s largest robot market in terms of annual installations for the foreseeable future. Analysts suggest that for China to reach robot density levels comparable to Germany, Japan, or South Korea, it would need to install up to one million robots in the coming years.
Recognizing this immense potential, robot suppliers are actively expanding their capacities and strategies for the China market. The diverse and expanding industrial base in China will provide significant opportunities for all types of robot installations, supporting continued sales growth. For the period 2015-2017, the average annual growth rate of robot installations in China is projected to be at least 25%, a forecast that excludes robots produced for internal use by companies like Foxconn and the rising output of domestic China robot manufacturers.