In the humanoid robot exhibition area of WAIC in 2026, dozens of humanoid robots of different shapes synchronously completed the coherent movements of water delivery, screw tightening, and assembly of precision parts, and the fluency amazed the overseas industry observers present. The latest industry data for the first half of 2026 confirms China's early leading advantage in the field of humanoid robots with solid shipment volume.

Leading the global market in terms of shipment volume

The total global shipment of humanoid robots in the first half of 2026 is about 19100 units, which is more than three times the 5100 units in the same period of 2025. The annual shipment is expected to climb to 60000 units and is expected to exceed 500000 units by 2030. Chinese manufacturers account for over 97% of shipments and hold an absolute dominant position in the global market.

The pattern of top manufacturers will also undergo new changes in the first half of 2026. Shanghai Zhiyuan Robotics won the world's first place with a shipment volume of 8400 units, accounting for 44% of the total global shipment volume, followed closely by Hangzhou Yushu Technology with a shipment volume of 5900 units. The shipment scale of the two Chinese companies far exceeds that of top American manufacturers such as Tesla Figure AI Agility Robotics, opening up a significant gap in position. According to public data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in July 2026, China's total number of humanoid robot products has reached over 400, accounting for more than half of the global total. Previously, the global sales of quadruped robots in China had already approached 70%, and the track advantage is rapidly extending from quadruped to humanoid.

Accelerating the commercialization landing

The application scenarios of humanoid robots in 2026 are rapidly transitioning from demonstrations to actual commercial use, with industrial and commercial applications accounting for over 70% of total shipments, a significant increase from 50% in the same period of 2025. The scale transformation of domestically produced humanoid robots has emerged in the parts transportation of automobile assembly workshops, precision assembly of 3C factories, and inspection and operation of commercial spaces.

The policies and funding support from the central to local levels are continuously accelerating the entry of humanoid robots into mainstream application fields. By 2026, 17 provinces in China have issued special support policies for the humanoid robot industry, with over 30 large-scale demonstration application scenarios implemented. Along with the rapid development of the industry, the gradual improvement of regulatory rules and the smooth promotion of cross regional industrial cooperation will become the key support for the steady growth of the industry in the next stage. Keywords: humanoid robots, high-tech

From independent and controllable breakthroughs in core components to the large-scale implementation of complete machine products, the Chinese humanoid robot industry in 2026 has already gone through the early prototype verification stage. This growth path, supported by a massive number of application scenarios, a complete supply chain system, and sustained policy support, is gradually leading domestic humanoid robots from a global shipment leader to a comprehensive leader in technical standards and commercial models.Editor/Cheng Liting