Report: 17.3% Growth Forecast for Collaborative Robot Shipments From 2025-30

Why It Matters

The rapid expansion reshapes automation strategies, giving manufacturers cost‑effective, higher‑capacity robots and cementing China’s lead in the global cobot supply chain.

Key Takeaways

• Cobot shipments projected to reach 128,918 units by 2030
• Average annual shipment growth of 17.3% from 2025‑2030
• China's cobot market share expected to hit 61.4% in 2030
• High‑payload cobots (>16 kg) gaining traction in industrial applications
• Revenue to exceed $2.3 billion by 2030 despite price pressure

Pulse Analysis

The collaborative‑robot market is entering a period of accelerated growth, driven by large‑scale equipment upgrades in electronics, a semiconductor recovery, and expanding automation in logistics. 2025 already delivered a 14.5% jump in shipments and a 10.5% revenue lift, setting the stage for an average 17.3% annual shipment increase through 2030. This surge reflects falling entry barriers, improved safety features, and cost reductions that make cobots attractive to midsize manufacturers seeking flexible automation.

Geographically, China’s dominance is sharpening. Its shipment share rose from 28.9% in 2018 to 54.7% in 2025 and is projected to exceed 61% by 2030, while the Americas and EMEA see modest declines. The revenue gap widens as Chinese units benefit from volume economies and lower average prices, though price erosion is slowing after a fierce price war. Stabilizing prices in China and rising production costs in Europe and the U.S. help preserve margins, supporting the forecasted $2.3 billion market size.

A notable trend is the shift toward medium and high‑payload cobots, blurring lines with traditional industrial robots. Vendors such as ABB and JAKA are launching models capable of handling 16 kg to over 40 kg, targeting heavy‑duty tasks in automotive, metal processing, and warehousing. These “industrial cobots” retain collaborative safety while delivering higher throughput, signaling a strategic move to capture applications previously reserved for larger, more expensive robots. The payload expansion broadens the addressable market and reinforces cobots as a versatile solution for complex manufacturing challenges.