The global humanoid robot industry witnessed a remarkable surge in 2025, with Chinese manufacturers, led by Shanghai-based AgiBot — also known as Zhiyuan Robotics — surging to the forefront on both commercial deployment and technological prowess, according to a report by market research firm Omdia.

The comprehensive analysis, which systematically evaluates market trends, key commercial metrics and overall technical capabilities, positions China at the helm of this transformative sector. AgiBot emerged as the global leader, clinching the top spot worldwide in both annual shipments and market share.

Omdia's report highlights that the global humanoid robot market entered a phase of rapid expansion in 2025, with total annual shipments estimated to reach 13,000 units. Chinese companies demonstrated exceptional performance in scaled manufacturing and delivery.

AgiBot stood out with annual shipments exceeding 5,100 units, capturing over 39 percent of global market share. This dual achievement in volume and market penetration solidifies its number-one ranking globally, the report said.

The company's success is underpinned by a diversified product portfolio covering full-sized, semi-sized and wheeled variants. More importantly, AgiBot has successfully transitioned from technological validation to batch delivery, achieving commercial deployment across multiple core scenarios. These include commercial performances and entertainment, guided tours and retail, intelligent industrial manufacturing, scientific research and education, and data collection for AI training, AgiBot said.

The report identifies the deep integration of generative artificial intelligence and robotics as a key catalyst, propelling robots beyond executing preset tasks toward becoming "general-purpose embodied intelligence" capable of autonomous learning and environmental adaptation.

The long-term outlook is notably rosy. Omdia forecasts an exponential growth trajectory for the humanoid robot market over the next decade. By 2035, global annual shipments are expected to skyrocket to approximately 2.6 million units.

The findings of the Omdia report signal a pivotal shift in the global high-tech manufacturing arena, highlighting China's ascendant role in defining the future of intelligent robotics. With Chinese companies setting the pace in both innovation and market execution, the era of humanoid robots is moving decisively from laboratory prototypes to integral components of the global industrial and service sectors, experts said.

Yao Maoqing, a partner at AgiBot and president of its embodied intelligence business unit, said the company began product deliveries to overseas customers in 2025, and it will ratchet up resources to explore markets such as North America, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

AgiBot on Tuesday inaugurated its first overseas robot experience center in Malaysia, positioning it as a pivotal move in its globalization strategy and Asia-Pacific market entry.

The facility is not only AgiBot's inaugural experience center outside China, but also Malaysia's first AI robot experience hub.

Deng Feng, general manager of AgiBot's Middle East and Asia-Pacific Region, highlighted the company's products, solutions and competitive advantages for the brand in the region. He emphasized that the global AI industry is experiencing explosive growth, with the Asia-Pacific region serving as a key driver and primary growth engine for humanoid robotics.

"To seize this opportunity, AgiBot will significantly lower the barrier to entry for partners by providing full-stack software and hardware technology along with support for mass production," Deng said.

The company adopts a dual-drive approach of "technology ecosystem plus business ecosystem" to precisely cater to diverse scenarios, including education, scientific research, manufacturing and services.

Li Lecheng, minister of industry and information technology, said in an interview earlier this week that China's industrial growth will increasingly rely on "value creation" and "winning through quality", with key sectors — including AI — set to be the focus of policy support this year.

Highlighting China's competitive advantages, particularly in scaling technology applications, Li pointed to the country's vast landscape for innovation.

"Our talent advantage is very evident, especially our strength in scenario applications — there are so many innovative activities," Li said.

He singled out AI as a critical area for rapid advancement.

"We must swiftly leverage our strengths in application scenarios, foundational resources, talent and even our institutional mechanisms to push AI development forward," Li added.

Local governments are also moving fast. The Hainan provincial government said it will focus on cultivating future industries and building new engines for development in 2026. In the field of embodied intelligence, Hainan will proactively plan for "brain-like models" tailored to unique application scenarios such as deep-sea exploration and tourism, and develop a variety of embodied intelligent robots, including underwater robots and cultural tourism consumer robots.

Seeing the potential, Beijing Galbot Co Ltd recently established a unit in Hainan, with a business scope covering the manufacturing of service and consumer robots, the research and development of intelligent robots, and the production of industrial robots.