China remains world's largest industrial robot market: report

China accounted for nearly three-fifths of industrial robots installed worldwide in 2025, further strengthening its position as the world's largest market for industrial robotics, according to the World Robotics 2026 report released Thursday.

A total of 354,000 industrial robots were deployed in China last year, up 20 percent from 2024 and accounting for 59 percent of global installations, said the Frankfurt-based International Federation of Robotics (IFR) in the report. The figure was nearly 60,000 units higher than the previous annual record.

China's demand for industrial robots was led by the electrical and electronics, automotive, and metal and machinery industries.

The electrical and electronics industry installed 96,400 industrial robots in 2025, up 16 percent year on year and accounting for 27 percent of China's total installations. The automotive industry installed 78,900 units, up 38 percent and reaching a record high, while installations in the metal and machinery industry rose 44 percent to 78,700 units.

Chinese robot makers also continued to expand their presence in the domestic market. Installations by domestic suppliers rose 15 percent in 2025 to 195,000 units, giving them a 55-percent share of total installations.

Installations by foreign suppliers increased 27 percent. More than half of the industrial robots installed in China have been supplied by Chinese brands since 2024, the IFR said.

The IFR forecasts that the Chinese market for industrial robots is far from saturated, with annual growth of 5 to 10 percent on average likely through 2029. Demographic changes and resulting labor shortages are expected to continue driving demand for robotic automation, which can help make production more resilient to labor shortages, it said.

Guided by the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), China's robotics strategy emphasizes technological self-reliance and the modernization of traditional industries, the IFR said. It added that China's robotics industry is moving toward becoming an innovator in physical AI and a developer of intelligent industrial robotics.

China remains world's largest industrial robot market: report

Dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States, the world's two largest economies, matters far beyond the two countries themselves, said Adnan Z. Amin, chair of the officers' council of the World Energy Council (WEC), a global network of energy organizations.

In a recent interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Amin said such dialogue gives the wider world grounds for optimism, and that the economic issues between the two sides can only be resolved through sustained engagement.

"It's absolutely essential. I think when you have two of the biggest economies in the world in dialogue and collaboration, it makes a difference for the rest of the world. It provides an optimistic approach, it provides a positive kind of perspective of where we can be going. There are hard issues to discuss. The economic trade-offs are not inconsequential. They need to be addressed. And the best way to do it is through dialogue. And to see President Xi in Washington today is very encouraging, because I think that dialogue is essential today," he said.

Amin added that policymakers should set aside reflexive hostility and focus on the tangible benefits that cooperation can bring to people in both countries.

"We need to get beyond this kind of knee-jerk antagonism that you see in certain policy circles in different countries around the world to really look at what is the reality today. How will our collaboration improve the lot of people in our countries? And what are the best areas for us to do (work on) and who has to take responsibility for what. This is essential," he said.

China-U.S. dialogue "absolutely essential" for world: WEC chair