The robotics sector has seen veritable growth in the past two years despite a number of key challenges facing all suppliers, but one country stands tall above the rest in the field of industrial robotics - robots used in the manufacturing sector.
Industrial automation has seen strides globally since the pandemic, but by far the largest producer of industrial robotics is Japan; pictured are robots constructing cars in Tokyo. Credit: Media Whalestock / Shutterstock
Japan has become the world's number one producer of industrial robots in recent years, being responsible for 45% of the global supply and coming well ahead of its nearest competitor, according to a report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
Read more: Can robotics solve our supply chain headaches?
The exports of robotics used in manufacturing shot up 78% in 2020 alone to 138,069 units, 36% of which were destined for China. The parts are both shipped directly from Japan or manufactured at plants in China and taken directly to buyers.
“Exports of Japanese industrial robots on average had a compound annual growth rate of 6% in the last five years”, said Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
“At the same time, imports of robots have always been extremely low. In 2020, only 2% of Japanese installations were imported. The domestic Japanese robot market is the second-largest in the world after China".
The report dropped on March 10 as the International Robot Exhibition (iREX) in Tokyo was well underway. The event has been held every two years since 1974 and present exhibitions from robot makers from around the globe.
Japan already having established physical footholds in the world's largest market proved fruitful in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic ravaged supply chains and manufacturing lines the world over.
Graph credit: International Federation of Robotics
Japanese developers were able to benefit greatly from a post-pandemic boom China went through in the second half of 2020.
Robotics is a highly-skilled and interdisciplinary field that offers a wide range of uses, from healthcare to personal use, but by far their most used application is in manufacturing.
With the rise of social distancing due to the pandemic, many companies opted for spatial automation to keep production levels normal while workers took shifts to contain to spread of the disease.
The US market share in Japanese exports came to around 22% in 2022, the IFR claims. However, the report predicts the US and China - which both represent massive markets - are set to further bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic and present major export opportunities for Japan.
“Japan is a highly robotised country and a global frontrunner in the use of robots for everyday life”, said Dr Susanne Bieller, General Secretary of the International Federation of Robotics.
“This year´s iREX exhibition in Tokyo will focus on ways towards a friendlier society, bridged by robots. iREX will display how robots are increasingly shaping our daily lives, e.g. by improving the quality and availability of the products we receive, the reduction of carbon emissions, health outcomes or care for elderly people."
China's latest five-year plan will also attempt to see it become a "global leader" in robotics and its position as the largest market in the world gives it a strong basis from domestic companies.
Read more: China's 5-year plan aims for global leadership in robotics
Foreign robotics manufacturers currently make up 73% of the Chinese automation market. In 2020 alone, imports from Japan, Korea and Europe increased by 24%, according to another IFR report.
Domestic Chinese robot manufacturers primarily cater to their own market, where they held a 27% share for 2020.
China's domestic market supply is expected to continue to climb going forward.
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