China increased its industrial robot installations by 5% to around 290,000 units in 2024, despite a global decline, according to preliminary data from the International Federation of Robotics.

This accounted for 54% of global installations, up from 51% in 2023.

Major markets, including Japan, the US, and the EU, saw drops of 7%, 9%, and 6%, respectively.

China’s industrial robot production rose 35.6% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, reaching nearly 370,000 units, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The country has accelerated automation efforts to move towards a technology-driven manufacturing model.

China had 470 industrial robots per 10,000 workers in 2023, ranking third globally behind South Korea and Singapore.

General industries in China now make up 53% of total installations, up from 38% in 2020, while the electronics sector’s share dropped to 28%.

The International Federation of Robotics said China is expected to remain a major market for industrial robots.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s automation drive continues despite global industrial slowdown

China’s 5% increase in robot installations to 290,000 units in 2024 stands in stark contrast to declining markets elsewhere, with Japan falling 7%, the United States dropping 9%, and the European Union declining 6%1.

This performance pushed China’s share of global installations from 51% to 54%, even as total global installations fell to around 520,000 units.

The divergence becomes more pronounced when considering China’s domestic production surge of 35.6% in the first half of 2024, reaching nearly 370,000 units1.

This suggests China’s robotics adoption is driven by structural economic transformation rather than cyclical demand, as the country continues its strategy of shifting from labor-intensive to technology-driven manufacturing.

Despite the International Federation of Robotics president noting that China’s installations have been “trending more or less sideways” for four years, the sustained growth amid global decline indicates resilient domestic demand for automation.