Global humanoid robot shipments reached nearly 25,000 units in the first half of 2026, up 432.1% year over year, with China accounting for 77.9% of global volume at more than 19,000 units, according to IDC1,5. AgiBot overtook Unitree Robotics for the first time to claim the global No. 1 position in shipments4.
AgiBot shipped more than 8,600 units in the first half, capturing roughly 35% of the global market and more than 45% of the Chinese market. The company said its humanoid robot shipments achieved tenfold growth. Unitree Robotics followed with approximately 5,900 units, representing 170% year-over-year growth and a 31% global share. Together the two companies hold more than half of the global humanoid robot market.
Use cases shift toward industry
The composition of demand is changing. Research and education, performance and display, and government data-collection scenarios accounted for 69% of humanoid robot shipments in H1 2026, down from 83.8% for full-year 2025. Industrial manufacturing, retail logistics, and consumer home applications emerged as new growth drivers. A separate research firm, SAG, said manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and other structured commercial environments are becoming the primary commercialization path for humanoid robots.
AgiBot detailed its commercial push at the 2026 Agibot Partner Conference, where it unveiled "Seven Deployment-State Productivity Solutions" spanning production-line loading and unloading, industrial transport, logistics sorting, guided tours, shopping assistance, service retail stations, security inspection, and commercial and industrial cleaning. IDC said AgiBot also overtook Unitree in revenue during the first half.
Broader competitive field and forecast
Several other Chinese companies ranked among global shipment leaders, including Booster Robotics, UBTECH, Galaxy General, and Leju. Unitree Robotics' G1 flagship model performed particularly well, with research, education, and performance-related applications remaining a key component of its deployment scenarios.
Vendors are also launching smaller, lower-cost humanoid robot products aimed at individual consumers through e-commerce and other channels. Consumer-grade humanoid robot products are expected to expand the user base from enterprises and institutions to individual consumers in the second half of 2026, according to the IDC tracker.
IDC raised its 2030 global humanoid robot shipment forecast to more than 750,000 units, roughly 50% above its previous estimate. The humanoid robot market exceeded $740 million in the first half of 2026, IDC said.
SAG's figures diverged somewhat from IDC's: SAG estimated global humanoid robot shipments at approximately 19,100 units, up 272% year over year, and said Chinese manufacturers contributed more than 97% of global volume. ANALYSIS The gap between IDC's 432% growth figure and SAG's 272% figure, and between IDC's 77.9% China share and SAG's 97%-plus estimate, reflects differing methodologies or scope definitions across the two research firms, though both confirm China's dominant position and triple-digit market growth.
Local governments, industrial parks, and state-owned enterprises in China have increased support for the humanoid robot industry since the start of 2026. IDC noted that China has a relatively complete humanoid robot supply chain and a vibrant vendor ecosystem. The rapid evolution of embodied AI foundation models has enhanced robots' ability to understand complex environments, make decisions, and execute tasks, according to the tracker.