Interview: Industry leader says China emerging as global robotics powerhouse

BERLIN, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- China has surged ahead in manufacturing automation and is now spearheading growth in the global robotics industry, Takayuki Ito, president of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview, highlighting the country's unprecedented pace in expanding its industrial robot fleet and modernizing factories.

"China has succeeded in upgrading its manufacturing industry at an unprecedented pace. Based on its national robotics strategy released in December 2021, the country has set an example of how to strengthen competitiveness systematically," Ito said.

"The robot stock doubled within three years, surpassing 1 million units in 2021 and reaching 2 million units in 2024 -- the largest robot stock worldwide," he added, describing the progress as a remarkable achievement reflecting policy continuity and industrial ambition.

The IFR, based in Frankfurt, Germany, represents global robotics manufacturers and research institutes, providing industry data, standards and guidance for the development of robotics worldwide. Each year, it publishes the World Robotics Report, a key reference for global automation trends.

According to the newly released 2025 report, global industrial robot installations amounted to 542,000 units in 2024, more than double the figure a decade ago. Asia remained the dominant market, accounting for 74 percent of all new robot deployments, compared with 16 percent in Europe and 9 percent in the Americas.

China continued to lead the global market, with its industrial robot stock surpassing 2 million units in 2024 -- more than half of the world's total. Annual installations rose 7 percent from 2023 to a record 295,000 units, underscoring the country's strong momentum in automation and manufacturing modernization.

The figures, he said, reflect China's leading role in shaping the next-generation global manufacturing landscape. Chinese manufacturers are setting new standards in automation by opening up new markets, integrating software, and improving production efficiency, rather than simply following global trends.

"Chinese robot makers sold more units at home than foreign competitors for the first time in 2024, with their market share rising to 57 percent from 47 percent in 2023," Ito said. "Growth is not limited to a few sectors -- food processing, textiles, and wood products are also seeing rapid robot adoption."

He cited 83,000 units installed in China's electrical and electronics sector in 2024, which accounted for 64 percent of the global installations in this industry, with the automotive sector following with 57,200 units. "Chinese suppliers are now supplying many of these industries domestically while gradually increasing their international footprint," he added.

Ito, who has visited China several times in recent years, made his most recent trip in August to attend the World Robot Conference in Beijing, where he saw robots being widely used in factories and labs, and even smaller manufacturers were efficiently adopting advanced automation solutions.

Ito also saw a growing focus on humanoid robots, a segment he expects to expand rapidly in the coming years.

On challenges ahead, Ito acknowledged that China still faces gaps, noting that robot exports remain limited and many new entrants in the domestic market may struggle to survive. "However, the progress is remarkable, and with increasing R&D investment, these gaps are expected to close rapidly."

On global cooperation, Ito stressed that China and traditional robotics powers such as Germany and Japan have complementary strengths.

He said that leveraging these strengths through collaboration can accelerate global industrial upgrading and deliver win-win outcomes.

Looking ahead, Ito said the global robotics market will maintain robust growth, with worldwide installations projected to rise 6 percent to 575,000 units in 2025 and surpass 700,000 units by 2028.

China will continue to drive growth in the robotics sector, Ito said, noting that the country's progress is not just about numbers but is transforming factories into hubs of global innovation. ■