China Shipped 97% of Humanoid Robots in H1 2026 as AgiBot Took the Lead

Global humanoid-robot shipments reached approximately 19,100 units in the first half of 2026, according to Smart Analytics Global (SAG). That was up 272% from about 5,100 units in the same period of 2025—nearly four times the earlier volume, rather than merely a modest year-over-year increase. Chinese manufacturers accounted for more than 97% of shipments.

The market grew sharply in six months

SAG’s comparison shows a market moving quickly from small-scale production toward broader commercial and customer deployments. The 19,100-unit H1 total was more than triple the 5,100 units shipped in H1 2025, a growth rate of 272%.

The figures refer to units shipped, not necessarily robots currently operating or delivering the same level of useful work. That distinction matters when using shipment data to assess the maturity of embodied-AI systems.

AgiBot overtook Unitree

The biggest change in the supplier rankings was AgiBot’s rise to the top. The Shanghai-based company shipped about 8,400 humanoid robots between January and June, giving it a 44% global share and putting it ahead of Unitree Robotics.

Unitree shipped approximately 5,900 units, or about 31% of the market. Combined, the two Chinese companies represented roughly three-quarters of global shipments during the period.

That concentration is significant: the leading supplier alone shipped nearly half of all humanoid robots counted worldwide, while the top two together accounted for most of the market.

Chinese manufacturers dominated overseas rivals

Chinese manufacturers supplied more than 97% of global humanoid-robot shipments in H1 2026. Their shipment volumes were well ahead of overseas competitors such as Tesla and Figure AI in SAG’s shipment-based comparison.

This does not establish that Chinese robots are universally more capable, reliable, or cost-effective. It shows that Chinese companies were, at this stage, shipping far more units to customers. Shipment leadership and technical leadership are related but distinct measures.

What the figures indicate about China’s advantage

The data point to an early advantage in converting embodied-AI humanoid designs into manufactured and deployed products at scale. Domestic production capacity and a large local market appear to have helped Chinese companies move more quickly from prototypes to shipment volume.

The more cautious interpretation is that China currently leads the commercial-volume race. Whether that lead persists will depend on factors the shipment totals do not settle, including real-world reliability, customer productivity, safety, software performance, and long-term operating economics.

For now, SAG’s H1 2026 figures establish three clear points: the global market expanded rapidly, Chinese manufacturers held an overwhelming share of shipments, and AgiBot displaced Unitree as the leading vendor by units shipped.