The industrial robotics sector is undergoing a significant transformation, with Chinese manufacturers increasingly challenging established giants as global demand for robots is projected to rise dramatically. ABI Research forecasts shipments of industrial robots to grow from approximately 400,000 units in 2024 to 649,000 by 2030, marking a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%.
China remains the largest single adopter of industrial robots, accounting for nearly 40% of global shipments. The APAC region as a whole leads in deployments, representing 70% of total global shipments in 2024. Notably, the automotive sector is the largest consumer, accounting for 38% of new shipments, followed by electronics assembly at 23%.
George Chowdhury, a Robotics Industry analyst at ABI Research, highlights the challenges faced by incumbent manufacturers. “Although the robotics market grew in 2024, a general slowdown in manufacturing was evident,” he explains. “Several market leaders reported reductions in orders as China-based robotics OEMs begin to force incumbents out of certain regional markets.”
The competition is further intensified by the emergence of collaborative robots, which offer improved payload capabilities and decreasing average selling prices. While these robots appeal to smaller manufacturers due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of use, Chowdhury asserts that the demand for the precision and repeatability of traditional industrial robots remains robust.
Established players such as FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa, and Omron are now facing competition from Chinese firms like SIASUN, STEP Electric, and Estun Automation. Chowdhury warns that the influx of Chinese robots could threaten the market share of these long-standing manufacturers. “We may be in the middle of a changing of the guard when it comes to industrial robot OEMs,” he concludes.
As reshoring and near-shoring initiatives gain traction, the landscape of industrial robotics is set for a dramatic shift, with implications for manufacturers worldwide.
