China bucked a global downturn in industrial robot installations last year, according to the latest figures.
The installation volume of industrial robots globally dropped to about 520,000 units in 2024, according to preliminary data from the International Federation of Robotics.
Major industrial robotic markets showed a general decline, with Japan recording a 7 per cent fall to 43,000 units, the United States reporting a 9 per cent decrease to 34,000 units and the European Union logging a 6 per cent drop to 86,000 units.
Installation in China, however, recorded a 5 per cent increase to about 290,000 units, accounting for 54 per cent of the global volume, compared to 51 per cent in 2023.
In the first half of this year, China’s industrial robot production increased by 35.6 per cent year on year, totalling nearly 370,000 units, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Annual installations in China climbed to 295,000 units, up 7 percent from 2023, marking the highest level ever recorded, the report said. Globally, 542,000 industrial robots were installed in 2024, more than double the number a decade ago, and worldwide installations exceeded 500,000 units for the fourth consecutive year.