Chinese robots emerge as new calling card for high-end exports

Summary

More than 300 exhibitors attended the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing from August 19 to 23. Tan Min, chief brand officer at UBTech, said overseas revenue accounts for about 23 percent of the company's total. Jack Perry, chairman of the UK's 48 Group, said China's robot industry is leading in physical intelligence.

According to the Chinese Institute of Electronics, Chinese humanoid robots made up 90 percent of global shipments in 2025, with more than 330 models. Exports in the first quarter of 2026 grew 210 percent year on year, making robots a new calling card for high-end manufacturing exports. Accelerate Evolution earns nearly half of its revenue from overseas, while Xingdong Era's overseas business accounts for 50 percent.

Sino-foreign cooperation is driving the development of the industry ecosystem.

Commentary

With 90 percent of global humanoid robot shipments coming from China and first-quarter exports surging 210 percent, leading players such as UBTech and Accelerate Evolution now derive between 23 percent and 50 percent of their revenue from overseas markets. These figures reflect China's combined advantages in physical intelligence, supply chain efficiency and rapid iteration, with a shift from cost competitiveness to stability and technological leadership. For small and medium-sized enterprises in New Zealand, the short-term opportunity lies in adopting Chinese robots for scenarios such as warehouse sorting and agricultural inspection to reduce labour costs, though local after-sales support and data compliance risks need careful assessment.

A more pragmatic entry point is to act as integrators or software partners, leveraging local industry knowledge for secondary development at the application layer rather than competing head-on with robot manufacturers. With Xingdong Era reporting half of its orders from overseas and many companies moving toward localised co-construction, the market window is shifting from pure procurement to ecosystem collaboration. NZ businesses should focus on niche service capabilities.

Keywords: robots, high-end manufacturing, exports, humanoid robots, World Robot Conference, overseas markets, Chinese Institute of Electronics, UBTech, Accelerate Evolution, Xingdong Era

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

2026世界机器人大会8月19日至23日在北京举行，300多家国内外企业参展。优必选首席品牌官谭旻称海外收入占比约23%，英国48家集团主席杰克·佩里表示中国机器人产业在物理智能方面领先。中国电子学会数据显示，中国人形机器人2025年全球出货量占90%、超330款产品，2026年一季度出口同比增长210%，成为高端制造出口新名片。

加速进化等企业近半收入来自海外，星动纪元海外业务占五成，中外合作推动产业生态建设。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

人形机器人全球出货量90%来自中国，一季度出口激增210%，优必选、加速进化等头部企业海外收入占比已达23%至50%。这一数据背后是中国在物理智能、供应链效率和快速迭代上的复合优势，已从性价比转向稳定性和技术领先。对新西兰中小企业而言，短期可关注仓储分拣、农业巡检等场景引入中国机器人降低人力成本，但需评估本地售后与数据合规风险；更务实的切入点是作为集成商或软件伙伴，利用本地行业知识在应用层做二次开发，而非与整机厂商正面竞争。

星动纪元海外订单占比五成及多家企业转向本地化共建，说明市场窗口正从单纯采购转向生态合作，NZ企业应聚焦细分场景服务能力。

关键词: 机器人, 高端制造, 出口, 人形机器人, 世界机器人大会, 海外市场, 中国电子学会, 优必选, 加速进化, 星动纪元

Source: Xinhuanet