AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
Above : TRUMPF welding robot .
Worldwide operational robots reached four million in 2023 ( chart : © World Robotics 2024 ).
international robot suppliers have established production plants in China and continuously increased capacity . China has become both the world ’ s largest car market and the world ’ s largest production base for cars ( including electric cars ) with strong growth potential .
China is also a major producer of electronic devices , batteries , semiconductors and microchips . Since 2016 , the electrical and electronics industry has replaced the automotive industry as the main customer and growth driver of industrial robots in China . Various other industries have also started to expand their capacity using advanced automation technology .
“ At its recent Third Plenum , China mapped out the direction of the country ’ s economic policies . Beijing wants to adapt to the new round of industrial transformation by using robots as an engine for growth . Today , China ’ s home market is still the biggest single market for Chinese robot manufacturers ,” explained the IFR .
70 % of all newly deployed robots in 2023 were installed in Asia , 17 % in Europe and 10 % in the Americas
Asian markets
According to the IFR , Japan remained the second largest global market for industrial robots ( behind China ). Robot installations in Japan reached 46,106 units in 2023 , down by 9 %. This followed two strong years , peaking at 50,435 units in 2022 : the second-best result after 2018 ( 55,240 units ), said the IFR .
“ Demand for robots in Japan is expected to remain stagnant in 2024 but recover in 2025 and the following years to medium and upper single-digit rates ,” it explained .
“ The market in the Republic of Korea is trending sideways . Installations reached 31,444 units in 2023 , down by 1 % year-on-year . The country was the fourth largest robot market in the world , in terms of annual installations , after the United States , Japan and China ,” added the IFR .
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