In the first half of 2026, 19,100 humanoid robots shipped worldwide — up 272% from a year earlier. According to a Smart Analytics Global report, China's AGIBOT took the lead, pushing Unitree into second place. For the first time, the market is shifting clearly from demos toward industrial deployments.
Key takeaways
- Global shipments 1H 2026: 19,100 units, up from 5,100 a year earlier (272%)
- AGIBOT: 8,400 units and 44% of the market, up 562% year over year
- Unitree: 5,900 units and 31% of the market — together the two firms control about 75%
- Chinese manufacturers account for 97% of global shipments
- More than 70% of humanoids went to industrial and commercial use
AGIBOT takes the lead
AGIBOT shipped 8,400 humanoids and captured 44% of the market. That is a 562% jump year over year — a pace no larger rival matched. The company recently reported building its 15,000th robot.
Unitree, the previous leader, shipped 5,900 units and holds 31% of the market. Its 170% growth is solid but slower than its rival's. Together the two firms control roughly three quarters of global shipments.
Behind the podium there is a clear gap. Galbot shipped 900 units, UBTECH 700, and Leju 600.
| Manufacturer | Shipments 1H 2026 | Share | YoY growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGIBOT | 8,400 | 44% | +562% |
| Unitree | 5,900 | 31% | +170% |
| Galbot | 900 | — | — |
| UBTECH | 700 | — | — |
| Leju | 600 | — | — |
The West still trails
China's dominance is almost total. Chinese manufacturers account for 97% of global shipments, and the Chinese market alone generates 85% of demand.
The most prominent Western player, Figure, crossed the threshold of 1,000 units produced — counted cumulatively, not in the half-year alone. That shows the scale of the gap between the Asian leaders and the rest of the field.
The nature of demand is changing too. More than 70% of humanoids went to factories and commercial use, versus about half a year earlier. Robots are ceasing to be mainly show material.
Why it matters
The ranking shows that market position in humanoids is now decided by production capacity, not just a flashy demo. AGIBOT overtook Unitree because it scaled deliveries to industrial customers faster. China's edge in the supply chain and cheap assembly builds a barrier that Western firms will struggle to close on technology alone. At the same time, analysts warn that hardware progress is outpacing the maturity of the AI itself — robots are being built faster than they learn genuinely useful tasks. That is a risk for the whole industry if deployments fail to deliver the promised value.
What's next?
- SAG forecasts about 60,000 shipments for all of 2026 and revenue of around USD 1.6 billion
- By 2030, annual shipments are expected to reach 500,000 units, per the same forecast
- FCC?FCC: Federal Communications Commission — the US regulator for communications and electronic devices. restrictions on non-US robotic devices could make it harder for Chinese makers to enter the American market
Sources
- Smart Analytics Global — Global Humanoid Robot Shipments 2026
- Humanoids Daily — Global Humanoid Shipments Surge 272% in 1H 2026 as AGIBOT Overtakes Unitree
