The International Federation of Robotics is fresh out with its World Robotics report for 2024, based on 2023 data, with the headline news that installed industrial robots in manufacturing and distribution rose 10% versus 2022 to over 4.2 million, even as new deployments dropped
That overall rise came from strong numbers of new installations, coming in at 541,302 units in 2023, making it the second highest in history, just 2% lower than the record of 552,946 units installed in 2022.
The study finds that US is behind global leaders in the deploymentof industrial robots.
China is by far the world´s largest market. The 276,288 industrial robots installed in 2023 represent 51% of the global installations. This result is the second highest level ever recorded (2022: 290,144 units). The share of Chinese manufacturers in the domestic market has grown considerably versus 2022, reaching 47% in 2023. It has fluctuated around 28% over the past decade.
The operational stock was just shy of the 1.8-million-unit-mark in 2023, making China the first and only country in the world with such a large robot stock. Demand for robots is expected to accelerate in the second half of 2024, contributing to a more stable market by the end of the year. In the longer term, there is still a lot of growth potential in Chinese manufacturing, with the potential for 5-10% average annual growth until 2027.
Japan remained the second largest global market for industrial robots. Robot installations reached 46,106 units in 2023 - down 9%. This followed two strong years, peaking at 50,435 units in 2022 - the second-best result after 2018 (55,240 units).
Demand for robots is expected to remain stagnant in 2024 but recover in 2025 and the following years to medium and upper single-digit rates.
The market in Korea is trending sideways: Installations reached 31,444 units in 2023 - down 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.
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India is one of the fastest growing emerging Asian economies. Robot installations increased by 59% to 8,510 units in 2023, a new high. Demand from the automotive industry soared to 3,551 units - an increase of 139%. Both car manufacturers and suppliers contributed to this development.
 Industrial robot installations in Europe rose 9% to a new high of 92,393 units. In total, 80% of installations in 2023 could be attributed to destinations in the European Union (73,534 units, up by 2%). Delayed projects were completed, and the backlog was cleared in 2023. Robot demand in the region also benefited from the nearshoring trend. In 2023, growth was strongly driven by the automotive industry investing in traditionally strong car manufacturing countries such as Spain (5,053 units +31%) but also in smaller markets such as Slovakia (2,174 units, +48%) or Hungary (1,657 units, +31%).
Installations in Germany, the largest European market and the only European one in the global top five, were up 7% to 28,355 units. Installations in the second largest European market, Italy, declined by 9% to 10,412 units. The third largest European market, France, was down 13%, installing 6,386 units.
In the UK, industrial robot installations increased by 51% to 3,830 units in 2023. Investment was driven by installations in the automotive industry, mainly for assembly tasks.
Robot installations in the Americas exceeded 50,000 units for the third year in a row: 55,389 units were installed in 2023, just 1% below the record level reached 2022.
The United States accounted for 68% of installations in the Americas in 2023. Robot installations were down by 5% to 37,587, but this is the third highest record figure after 2022 and 2018. Demand from the automotive industry fell by 15% to 12,421 units. This was in line with the average for the past decade. Installations in the metal and machinery industry were up 8% to 4,171 units. Installations in the US electrical/electronics industry remained steady at 3,900 units (+1%).
In Canada, robot installations rose 37% to 4,311 units. Installation figures in Canada largely depend on automotive investment cycles. The share of the car industry was 58% in 2023.
Robot demand in Mexico is driven by the automotive industry, which accounts for 70% of the market: Installations from this sector fell by 5% to 4,087 units, showing the cyclical demand pattern well known in this customer segment. Total installations reached 5,832 units in 2023, a decrease of 3%
2023 Outlook
The report concludes by noting that ‘’robot deployments are expected to level off at 541,000 units” in 2024. Growth is expected to accelerate in 2025 and continue in 2026 and 2027. There are no signs that the overall long-term growth trend will end in the near future.
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