The Chinese market as the largest in the world.
In 2020, China ranked first in the world in terms of the number of newly installed. industrial robots - over 168 thousand units, which represents a 20% increase compared to the previous year. This is not only the largest market in terms of annual installations, but also the largest number of robots in operation - about 943 thousand units. The density of robots in the Chinese industry was 246 units per 10 thousand employees, which represents significant progress compared to the level in 2015, when it ranked only 25th in the world.
According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), China is already the most important robotics market - both in terms of sales of new devices and the number of units in operation. This allows them to develop automation technology dynamically, but at the same time shows that foreign manufacturers currently dominate there.
Foreign manufacturers account for 73% of the market share.
The largest part of the Chinese market is occupied by foreigners - mainly from Japan, Korea and Europe. In 2020, their share was 73%, which is a stable level despite some fluctuations in recent years. In the same year, over 123 thousand imported robots were installed, some of which were produced locally by foreign companies. This shows that the technological independence of Chinese manufacturers is still limited.
Chinese manufacturers supplied 45,347 robots in the same year - this is their largest market share so far, but far from dominance. However, their development is supported by the new five-year plan for the development of the robotics industry, which aims to promote innovation and increase the competitiveness of local companies.
Enlarged imageClose zoomPrevious imageNew five-year plan: from innovation to global leader.
The new five-year plan for the robotics industry, announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in Beijing, aims to make China a global technological leader in the field of robotics. The plan focuses on promoting innovation, digitalization and intelligent modernization of the industry. Its goal is also to support technological progress on a global scale.
According to Song Xiaogang from the China Robot Industry Alliance (CRIA), the plan is of great importance for the qualitative development of the Chinese robotics sector during the 14th five-year plan period. Although it does not contain specific quantitative goals, its direction is clear: to increase the share of local manufacturers and accelerate the integration of robotics with new technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
What does the plan mean for global robotics?
The growth of the Chinese robotics market is strategically important for the entire industry. The larger the market, the more data, investment and opportunities to test new solutions. This can accelerate technological development, but at the same time make it difficult for companies from other countries to access the market if Chinese companies take over dominance.
Currently, however, there is no evidence that this plan leads to the widespread implementation of local solutions. Foreign companies still dominate, and the Chinese market remains open to global competition. Therefore, it will be crucial whether the plan brings about real changes in the structure of production and innovation of local companies - and not just declarations.
The five-year plan not only supports the development of local manufacturers but is also key to the global competitiveness of the Chinese industry. Thanks to investments in research and development of artificial intelligence, robotics in China can integrate more quickly with new digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) or real-time data analysis. This translates into greater production efficiency and the possibility of creating smart factories that are increasingly autonomous.
At the same time, the increasing share of Chinese companies in the market may lead to changes in the global supply chain - if local manufacturers manage to take a larger part of the market, it will be more difficult for foreign companies to maintain their positions. However, as data from 2020 show, the dominance of foreign brands is still strong, which means that the plan must bring about real changes in the innovative and qualitative structure, and not just declarations. It will also be crucial to ensure access to advanced components, such as sensors or processors, which are currently still dependent on imports. Without this, the plan may turn out to be only a promotional strategy without significant impact on the market structure.
