Industrial Robot Statistics

World Robotics 2011 Industrial Robots:

This unique publication presents comprehensive global statistics on industrial robots in uniform tables allowing consistent country comparisons. It contains detailed statistical data for some 40 countries, broken down by application areas, industrial branches, types of robots and by other technical and economic variables. Data on production, exports and imports are presented for a selection of countries. Trends in robot densities, i.e. number of robots per 10,000 persons employed in relevant sectors, are also featured.

2010: Strong comeback of the robotics industry

In 2010, robot sales almost doubled compared to 2009 to 118,337 units. The automotive industry and the electronics industry were the main drivers of the strong recovery.

In 2009, the worldwide economic and financial crisis caused a significant slump in the sales of industrial robots. Compared to 2008, considered one of the most successful years, 2009 had a decline of 47% (60,000 units). This is the lowest level reported since 1994. Robot installations had never decreased so heavily.

Various regions experienced different rates of recovery in robot sales in 2010. Asia (including Australia and New Zealand) was on top with an increase of 132% to about 70,000 units, the highest level ever recorded. The most dynamic markets were China, the Republic of Korea and the ASEAN countries. Sales to these markets almost tripled. In 2010, the Republic of Korea topped the list with some 23,500 robots sold, up from 7,800 units in 2009. Huge investments made by the electronics industry and the motor vehicle industry were mostly responsible for this large increase in robot sales. Robot sales to Japan recovered by 72% to about 21,900 units. For the first time, Japan was the second largest robot market in the world. The strong increase in 2010 could not compensate for the slump of sales in 2009. In 2010, the motor vehicle suppliers continued to reduce robot investments while the electrical/electronics industry considerably increased robot purchases. 15.000 new robots were supplied to China. It became the fourth largest robot market following North America. Robot investments in China took off like never before. Not only the increase of production capacities were the reason for this, but also an increasing trend towards automation in order to meet the demand for quality.

About 17,100 units were shipped to the Americas, 90% more than in 2009, reaching almost the level of 2008. In the United States robot shipments increased by 111% to 14,380 units in 2010 compared to 2009. The main drivers of the growth were the electronics industry and the metal industry, which increased their robot investments considerably in 2010. The automotive industry still remained the main customer, but the increase of robot orders was below average. In Canada, shipments surged by 110% to 1,076 units. Between 2007 and 2009 the annual supply decreased form 3,025 units to 513 units. There were almost no investments taking place in the automotive industry. This changed in 2010 when the automotive industry ordered considerably more robots. However, the volume of shipments was still only one third of that of 2007. About 16% fewer robots than in 2009 were delivered to Mexico (900 units). Most of these robots were shipped to the automotive industry. Despite the decline in robot supply in 2010, Mexico started to gain importance as a production site for the automotive industry due to lower costs. In 2010, 640 industrial robots were supplied to Brazil, 29% more than in 2009.  

About 30,600 units were sold in Europe, 50% more than in 2009. This is still about 13% lower than the peak levels of 2007 and 2008. Between 2005 and 2008, a strong trend towards automation boosted robot sales.  But, the economic downturn in 2008/2009 put a halt to this upward trend .

In 2010, 14,000 new industrial robots were supplied to Germany, 65% more than in 2009. After the strong decrease in 2009, this was the third highest number of units ever recorded. Particularly, the motor vehicle industry was the main driver of the strong recovery with 172% more industrial robots than in 2009. Also, other big customers, i.e. the automotive parts suppliers, the metal industry and the rubber and plastics industry ordered almost 50% more than in 2009. The food and beverage industry reached a new peak level as well.

In 2010, total robot sales to Italy were up by 57%, to about 4,500 units after decreasing two years in a row. This was the result of a strong increase of robot sales to the automotive industry. Sales to all other industries only grew below average. From 2007 to 2009, robot sales fell from about 5,800 units to 2,900 units. In 2010, about 2,000 industrial robots were sold in France, 41% higher than in 2009. However, sales in 2009 reflect the second lowest number of installations since 1995. Sales of industrial robots to Spain recovered by 41% compared to 2009 to 1,900 units, but did not reach the level of 2007 and 2008. Shipments to the UK also increased by 38% to some 900 units. All three countries are important automotive production sites with decreasing number of robot installations between 2006/2007 and 2009.

The economic downturn as well as the decreasing or stagnating car market in Western Europe in the past few years revealed the existing overcapacities in the region. While Germany was hardly affected by the restructuring of the automotive industry, all other production sites in Western Europe saw a continued decline of investments by the automotive industry as a whole between 2006/2007 and 2009.   

Robot sales to the Central/Eastern European countries surged by 73% in 2010. Thereof, shipments to the Russian Federation decreased.

Value of the market was up to US$ 5.7 billion

In 2010, sales recovered by 50% to US$ 5.7 billion, which is still below the value of 2008, one of the most successful years. It should be noted that the figures cited above generally do not include the cost of software, peripherals and systems engineering. Including the mentioned costs might result in the actual robotic systems market value to be about three times as high. The worldwide market value for robot systems in 2010 is therefore estimated to be $17.5 billion.

Another strong increase in 2011, continued growth between 2012 - 2014

Another strong increase of robot installations of about 18% to a new peak of about 139,300 units is estimated for 2011. The main impulses are coming from North America, China and other South-east Asian countries. Investments in Japan will gain momentum as reconstruction and new projects are carried out in the coming months. Japan is likely to return at the top of the robot market in 2011. As a consequence of the disaster in Japan, Japanese companies have been trying to diversify their production geographically. This will result in considerable investments in robot installations in Asian markets as well as in Europe and in North America. The robot supply to the Republic of Korea will only slightly increase after the huge investments in 2010. Robot supply to China will surge and finally at least in 2014 China will be on top of the robot markets. The robot sales in Europe will increase below average because of a rather moderate increase in investment by the western European countries. The robot installations in the eastern and central European countries will surge in 2011. However, it is still possible that due to a shortage of components and capacity problems a part of these expected robot installations will have to be shifted to 2012.

The automotive industry is continuing to be the main driver of the growth in worldwide robot installations with investments in new technologies, further capacities and renovation of production sites. Investments of the General Industry - all other industries, except automotive ? are gaining momentum. The trend towards automation which was interrupted by the economic crisis in 2008/2009 will further boost robot installations.

The success story of industrial robots will continue also after 2011. Huge consumer markets are opening up in China, India, Brazil, Russia, and in Southeast Asia. All industries will increase capacities and modernize existing production sites in the years to come in these markets. The necessary increase of automation of the industrial production will continue in the United States. The companies are forced to make these investments in order to be competitive on the world market. Rising wages and the increasing standard of living will also push automation in still low-wage countries in Eastern and Central Europe as well as in Asia and in South America. The Middle Eastern countries are becoming new markets for automation.

Apart from any economical development, the robotics industry is confronted with the modification of production processes due to the individualization of consumer products. The handling of robots has to become much easier, ever greater flexibility is necessary, and rapidity and accuracy have to be increased. The robotics industry is on track to meet these challenges.

A further increase will resume in the period between 2012 and 2014 about 6% per year on average attaining a level of about 167,000 units. In the Americas sales will be up by 31% in 2011, in Asia/Australia by 16% and in Europe by 13%. Between 2012 and 2014, robot shipments will increase by about 6% per year on average:   about 6% in the Americas, about 7% in Asia/Australia, and about 4% in Europe.  

Certain risks are involved with regard to this rather optimistic forecast, i.e. weakening growth of the world economy or even a new recession caused by financial problems of major markets.

The operational stock of industrial robots

In terms of units, it is estimated that the worldwide stock of operational industrial robots will increase from about 1,035,000 units at the end of 2010 to 1,308,000 at the end of 2014, representing an average annual growth rate of less than 6% between 2012 and 2014. In 2011, the stock will increase by 6% to almost 1.1 million units.

More information: www.worldrobotics.org