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TrendForce’s latest robotics industry research reports that humanoid robots in China are beginning to be deployed across a wider range of applications—automotive, 3C electronics, aerospace, logistics, and energy—putting their commercial viability to the test. The 2026 World Robot Conference (WRC), opening on August 19, will introduce a “Procurement Day” for the first time, bringing together procurement negotiations and industry supply chain matchmaking. This reflects a shift in industry focus from technology demonstrations toward actual demand.
TrendForce estimates that China’s humanoid robot market will reach CNY 15 billion in 2026 and maintain growth of at least 60% in 2027 as mass production expands and applications increase.
TrendForce notes that humanoid robots will again be a major focus at this year’s WRC, with leading vendors unveiling new products. Unitree released a video of its new “Superman” robot ahead of the event, highlighting its ability to jump two meters vertically and sprint at speeds of up to 12.66 meters per second. This demonstrates that vendors are continuing to rapidly advance robot performance.
However, the market is increasingly focused on whether these products can move beyond exhibitions and into commercial applications. In addition to demonstrations of complex movements and AI capabilities, participating vendors are likely to highlight practical tasks such as material handling, quality inspection, and logistics.
Among major Chinese humanoid robot vendors, AgiBot had produced a cumulative 15,000 robots as of June 2026 and continues to expand into 3C manufacturing applications. UBTECH’s products have been deployed by customers including Airbus, while U1 preorders reached 13,361 units by the end of June. Galbot, meanwhile, is collaborating with CATL and has secured a CNY 236 million procurement order for embodied AI equipment.
Profit growth remains a key challenge for vendors
TrendForce points out that although humanoid robots are being deployed across increasingly diverse applications, adoption remains at different stages, including formal procurement, preorders, expressions of intent, and application partnerships. The market is still some distance from large-scale, standardized repeat purchases. For companies, the real test is whether customers will place repeat orders after initial deployment and whether hardware and maintenance costs, together with actual operating efficiency, can deliver a reasonable return on investment.
Unitree serves as an important case study for the commercialization of humanoid robots in China. The company listed on Shanghai’s STAR Market on August 19, with its market capitalization briefly reaching CNY 444.9 billion after trading began. This reflects strong capital market expectations for the growth potential of humanoid robots.
However, a closer look at Unitree’s recent financial performance shows that while 2025 revenue reached CNY 1.699 billion—more than tripling YoY—and 1H26 revenue is estimated to grow 36–45%, recurring net profit is projected to decline 6–22% YoY. Profit in 1Q26 had already fallen 52.55% YoY.
These figures highlight the reality that even as major vendors achieve strong revenue growth, profitability remains under pressure. They also underscore the challenge of achieving cost advantages through greater shipment scale and improving profitability as humanoid robots enter mass production.
TrendForce suggests that, beyond the robot demonstrations at WRC, the market should prioritize products with confirmed customers and ongoing volume deliveries, while also assessing if initial orders lead to repeat business. The future of China’s humanoid robot industry will depend not only on technological advancements but also on consistent delivery and profitability.
