TECH

China’s Robotics Industry Index Rises 6.4%

Published: Jun. 8, 2026 5:05 p.m. GMT+8

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China’s Robotics Industry Index (RII) rose 6.4% in May from the previous month, driven by a surge in exports and strong labor hiring, even as capital investment in the sector showed signs of cooling.

The index reflects the rapid maturation of the country’s robotics industry, with exports growing far faster than production as domestic manufacturers climb up the global industry value chain.

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China’s Robotics Industry Index rose 6.4% month-on-month in May to 125.1, driven by export surge and labor hiring.
Labor metrics rose to 161.2, becoming the core driver; capital metrics fell to 130.8.
China exported 52,000 industrial robots worth $590 million in first five months of 2026, up 33.9% YoY; Unitree Robotics secured IPO approval.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Unitree Robotics: Unitree Robotics secured approval for an IPO on Shanghai's STAR Market on June 1. The company plans to issue at least 40.4 million new shares, raising 4.2 billion yuan ($620 million) for robot model research, product development, and facility construction.

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When

2023：: China's industrial robot density reached 470 units per 10,000 people, ranking third globally behind South Korea (1,012) and Singapore (770).

2024：: Base period for the Robotics Industry Index (RII), with a starting value corresponding to 100.

2025：: China produced 699,000 industrial robots and 13.9 million service robots, with five-year annual growth rates of 25.3% and 24%, respectively.

First five months of 2026：: China exported 52,000 industrial robots worth $590 million, a 33.9% year-on-year increase.

May 2026：: China's Robotics Industry Index (RII) rose 6.4% from the previous month to 125.1; labor metrics rose to 161.2, capital metrics fell slightly to 130.8, and technology metrics were volatile at 109.6.

June 1, 2026：: Unitree Robotics secured approval for an initial public offering on Shanghai's STAR Market, planning to issue at least 40.4 million new shares to raise 4.2 billion yuan ($620 million).