Recent statistics released by China's National Market Supervision Administration reveal a remarkable trajectory for the nation's robotics industryBy the end of December 2024, there were approximately 451,700 companies engaged in the smart robotics sector, with a total registered capital exceeding 64.45 trillion yuanThis marks a dramatic increase of 206.73% in the number of companies since the end of 2020, and a notable growth of 19.39% compared to the end of 2023. Such figures testify to the robust upward momentum of the industry.

Further emphasizing the optimism, listed companies along the robotics supply chain are anticipating a positive performance in 2024. As per data from Wind, by February 10 this year, 57 listed companies in the robotics sector had disclosed profit forecasts for the upcoming fiscal yearAmong these, 29 companies reported promising news, with projected cumulative net profits exceeding 10 billion yuanThis signals a buoyant outlook for the industry.

The revival of the terminal market is a pivotal driver behind this growthAn analysis of market players shows that leading firms like Goertek Inc. and Changying Precision Technology Co., along with Han's Laser Technology Industry Group Co., have risen to prominence amid this industry expansionMany of these companies attribute their promising outlooks to the ongoing artificial intelligence wave, which has spurred a remarkable recovery in the consumption electronics marketIn addition, the flourishing new energy sector has also provided substantial support for their financial performance.

Goertek's performance forecast underscores the recovery in the consumer electronics industry, propelled by cutting-edge technologies such as AIThe company has noted positive developments across its precision components, intelligent acoustic systems, and smart hardware sectors, particularly in subcategories like VR/MR and wearable technologyConsequently, the gross profit margin across their operations has seen an uplift.

However, the industrial robotics space presents a mixed bag of results due to ongoing market segmentation

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Efort Intelligent Equipment Co. anticipates a more than 30% increase in its industrial robot sales for 2024, a figure that surpasses the growth rate of China’s industrial robot marketNonetheless, intense market competition and fluctuations in demand have adversely affected the revenues of its robotics division compared to the previous year.

Nanjing Estun Automation Co. reported similar trends, indicating significant drops in sales revenue for its industrial robots catering to the photovoltaic sectorYet, bolstered by robust sales growth in automotive, electronics, and metal processing industries, the overall performance of Estun's robotics operations remains stable.

A representative from the Gao Gong Robotics Research Institute noted that among the three major foundational markets—automotive parts, 3C electronics, and new energy—the 3C electronics segment is likely to maintain its high growth, while the automotive industry is expected to show relative steadinessWithin the new energy sector, particularly in lithium batteries, there’s an anticipated mild recoveryIn summary, the ongoing structural differentiation within the industry is expected to continue, enhancing the support for the demand for industrial robots.

Amidst this positive backdrop, some humanoid robot enterprises are demonstrating remarkable performances as wellMany traditional robotics companies are thoughtfully diversifying into the burgeoning humanoid robot space, yielding impressive results.

The depth of knowledge accrued from long-standing expertise in key technologies, such as motion control and precision transmission, facilitates the transition of these traditional robotics firms into the core components market for humanoid robotsFurthermore, their established supply chains and large-scale production capabilities provide them with crucial advantages in maintaining supply consistency, stringent quality control, and cost reduction.

For instance, Changying Precision projected a net profit ranging from 700 million to 820 million yuan for the previous year

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According to company representatives, Changying has strategically positioned itself in the humanoid robotics sector, focusing primarily on precision components, including flexible hand joints, gears, bearings, and fingertip sensorsIn 2024, the company established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Shenzhen Changying Robot Co., dedicated to the research and sale of intelligent robots, especially high-precision components for humanoid robotsNotably, they have already penetrated the supply chains of two leading global players in the humanoid robotics core components field.

Another noteworthy player is Orbbec Technology Group, which anticipates an impressive annual revenue growth of approximately 55.55%. The company's parent net profits have shown a reduction in losses by roughly 216 million yuanOrbbec's performance projections cite the significant role of 3D visual sensing technology in accurately reproducing the physical world and enhancing the “perception—decision—execution” workflow in various types of robotsAs demand for AI-endpoint hardware and applications continues to swell, Orbbec is expected to benefit from this trendWith a successful launch of their smart manufacturing base for 3D visual sensing technology, the company aims to improve production scale and mass production plans steadilyAt present, they are engaged in testing compatibility and sample trials of their 3D visual solutions with several humanoid robot clients.

Industry analysts from Industrial Securities predict that by 2025, the humanoid robotics supply chain in China could transition from mere investment themes into a phase of tangible profitabilityThis expected advancement is attributed to cost control advantages heightened by China's manufacturing prowess and the realization of commercialization through diverse domestic application scenariosConsequently, domestic complete robot manufacturers are poised to leverage these factors for increased competitiveness on the international stage

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