China makes 97% of world's humanoid robots, report finds

What happened: Chinese companies shipped more than 97% of the world's humanoid robots in the first half of 2026, according to research firm Smart Analytics Global (SAG).

The numbers: Global shipments hit roughly 19,100 units, up 272% from 5,100 a year earlier. China accounted for over 18,500 of them and more than 85% of global demand.

Who's affected: Agibot, based in Shanghai, topped the market with 8,400 units (44% share), overtaking Hangzhou's Unitree at 5,900 units (31%). Together the two firms hold about 75% of global shipments. US makers Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics trailed far behind.

In their words: SAG founder Linda Sui said "industrial and commercial applications accounted for more than 70% of shipments, up from approximately 50% a year earlier."

The catch: The figures count units shipped, not robots performing sustained productive work. Analysts still view the technology as immature.

Why it matters: SAG forecasts around 60,000 humanoid robot shipments for all of 2026, rising to half a million by 2030 and roughly $3 billion in revenue, underlining how far ahead Chinese manufacturers have moved.

The context: The report landed the same day Unitree opened its share subscription for a Shanghai listing, making it the first humanoid robot maker on China's A-share market.

What's next: In late July, the US moved to ban imports of new Chinese-made humanoid and quadruped robots, along with some components, citing security grounds. That leaves American buyers facing tighter access just as Chinese output accelerates.

Full details: Bloomberg via Yahoo Finance and TechNode.