The use of factory automation is rapidly increasing worldwide due to the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), labor shortages, and the restructuring of global supply chains.
The use of factory automation is rapidly increasing worldwide due to the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), labor shortages, and the restructuring of global supply chains. The number of active industrial robots worldwide surpassed 5 million last year, while the installation of new robots also recorded significant growth. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the global stock of active industrial robots increased by 9 percent year-on-year last year, while installations of new industrial robots rose by 11 percent to more than 600,000 units.
China maintained its global lead in industrial robot installations. The country installed 354,000 new industrial robots last year, an annual increase of 20 percent, accounting for approximately 59 percent of total installations worldwide. Domestic robot manufacturers in China also strengthened their position, capturing 55 percent of the country's industrial robot market.
The United States ranked second, with 38,500 new robots installed, representing a 12 percent increase. Japan ranked third with 36,219 units, although installations there declined by 19 percent. South Korea installed 30,200 new industrial robots, Germany 24,800, and India 10,500. Installations increased by 15 percent in India, while Germany recorded an 8 percent decline.
Germany continues to hold a leading position in the use of robotics in European industry. Although new installations in Germany declined last year, the country accounted for 41 percent of all industrial robots installed in the European Union. Several other major European industrial economies, including Italy, France, and Spain, also recorded declines in new industrial robot installations.
Global demand for industrial robots is expected to increase further in the coming years. According to the report, robot installations worldwide could reach 655,000 units this year, while the figure is expected to rise to 806,000 units by 2029. Experts say persistent labor shortages in developed economies, the trend toward restoring supply chains, and AI-powered technologies are among the main factors driving this growth. Modern AI technologies have also made it relatively easier and more affordable for small and medium-sized businesses to install and use robots.
Türkiye ranked 17th globally in terms of new industrial robot installations last year, with 3,194 new robots installed, a 9 percent decline from the previous year. In 2023, a record 4,429 industrial robots were installed in Türkiye. However, the country's total stock of active industrial robots increased by 7 percent to a record 30,990 units, placing Türkiye 15th worldwide in terms of its total operational industrial robot fleet.
The metal industry remained the largest buyer of robots for industrial automation in Türkiye. A total of 990 new robots were installed in the sector last year, an 8 percent annual increase, accounting for 31 percent of all new installations in the country. The number of active industrial robots in the metal industry stood at 6,774 units. Robot use also increased in the automotive industry. The number of active robots in the sector rose by 3 percent to 11,017 units, while 889 new robots were installed last year, accounting for 28 percent of Türkiye's total new installations.
Demand for robots remained weaker in some other industrial sectors in Türkiye. New robot installations in the electrical and electronics sector, which includes household appliances and electrical machinery, fell by 37 percent to just 136 units. Similarly, robot installations in the food, beverage, and tobacco products sector declined by 40 percent to 144 units.
Globally, approximately 59 percent of new industrial robots installed last year were used for handling operations and machine tending, while 16 percent were installed for welding and soldering applications. According to the report, robot density in manufacturing remains relatively low, with an average of 52 industrial robots per 10,000 workers. In the automotive industry, however, the figure is much higher, at 374 robots per 10,000 workers, while other industrial sectors had a robot density of 35 units per 10,000 workers. Overall, the figures show that artificial intelligence, labor shortages, and the need to make production processes more efficient are continuing to drive growing global demand for industrial robotics.
