By Lu Xinyan

Robotics is emerging as one of Ningbo's fastest-growing export sectors, as local manufacturers accelerate shipments of industrial and service robots to overseas markets.

According to Ningbo Customs, the city's robot exports reached 720 million yuan in the first half of 2026, up 160% year on year.

Exports included industrial robots, commercial cleaning robots, surgical robots and intelligent bionic robots. Industrial robot exports totaled 340 million yuan, an increase of 22.4%, while commercial cleaning robot exports surged to 380 million yuan.

Inside Zhejiang Ounitech Robotics' 4,000-square-meter production facility, automated assembly lines install laser navigation sensor modules with millimeter-level ranging accuracy into the control systems of robotic vacuum cleaners.

"The robots are equipped with 3D SLAM navigation technology and can build maps of their surroundings in real time and adapt to different operating environments," said Shi Mengjia, general manager of Ounitech Robotics. "They are already being used in supermarkets and industrial warehouses, and have been exported to more than 40 countries and regions, including the United States and Russia." The company expects its output value to quadruple in 2026 as demand continues to grow.

Ningbo has established one of China's most complete humanoid robot supply chains, covering key components such as precision reducers, controllers and servo motors, as well as complete robot assembly and systems integration.

Local companies are increasingly exporting not only robot hardware but also integrated embodied AI solutions. At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Pia Automation, a subsidiary of Joyson Electronics, demonstrated a production line in which three wheeled embodied AI robots worked together to complete parts feeding, assembly, packaging and pallet handling without human intervention.

The system, designed for precision assembly of automotive battery management systems, has completed trials in multiple industrial settings and has secured tentative deals from Chinese and overseas clients.

Earlier this year, the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center partnered with Schneider Electric to showcase an embodied AI solution for chemical laboratories at the Hannover Messe in Germany. The system attracted industry attention for its ability to coordinate multiple robots for high-precision laboratory tasks, while allowing for digital twinning.

To support growing robot exports, Ningbo Customs has expanded its appointment-based customs clearance service and introduced a dedicated green channel for robot shipments. The measures provide priority inspection and end-to-end customs support to help time-sensitive export orders clear more efficiently.