Shenzhen Robot Exports Soar 10-Fold, China Gains Global Foothold

While the U.S. debates whether to restrict Chinese robots, Chinese factories are already booked solid for two years. At Pudu Robotics' factory in Jianhu, Jiangsu, five assembly lines run at full capacity for ten hours, with workers installing new lidar modules into robot bodies. Orders are scheduled into 2027.

Founded in 2016, the company has shipped over 130,000 units and serves more than 50,000 end customers worldwide. This year, export volumes have already surpassed last year's total, with products reaching 85 countries. Its cleaning robots have seen export growth over 100% annually for years, holding a 29% share of the global commercial cleaning robot market.

Shenzhen, a hotbed of robotics, saw exports skyrocket. According to Shenzhen Customs, robot exports totaled 6.94 billion yuan in H1, up 10.4 times year-on-year, reaching over 110 countries. In the first four months, Shenzhen accounted for 25.5% of China's total robot export value—for every 4 yuan of robot exports nationwide, at least 1 yuan came from Shenzhen.

Specifically, industrial robot exports reached 830 million yuan in H1, up 36%, while surgical robot exports hit 480 million yuan, a 3.3-fold increase.