Cobot demand strengthens after 2024 low

The market intelligence specialist reports the market has come under increasing pressure over recent years amid ongoing economic headwinds and supply chain disruptions. Fluctuations in the rate of expansion indicate the market’s sensitivity to macroeconomic conditions. However, a return to stronger growth is expected, with 2026 (23.9%) marking the strongest growth year for shipments during the forecast period out to 2029.

While Interact Analysis forecasts early signs of revival ahead of predicted high growth from 2026-2029, there has been a significant structural shift reshaping the entire cobot market landscape. Both non-manufacturing and new energy sectors have emerged as key pillars for the market, with both maintaining stable demand. Meanwhile, the semiconductor and electronics industries, which have traditionally been strong market end-users, have started to generate significant orders as they move into a recovery cycle.

Two of the most common applications within the manufacturing industries include material handling and assembly. Together, they account for approximately 50% of cobot market revenues in 2024. Downstream industries are also showing strong demand for collaborative robots. Testing and inspection both showcased application growth rates above 20% in both 2023 and 2024.

China could reach 70,000 cobot units by 2029

Since 2023, China has accounted for over half of global cobot shipments and shipments are predicted to reach almost 70,000 units in 2029. EMEA and the Americas will maintain a stable but more modest market share. The biggest end-user industry for the global cobot market is automotive, but electronics remains the largest for China. Approximately one-third of all collaborative robots sold in China in 2023 went into the electronics industry.

In 2024, price reductions in China, among other factors, led to global collaborative robot revenue growth remaining stuck in single digits. In the European market, revenue contributions dropped due to macroeconomic challenges, while the US market faced economic uncertainty and concerns relating to tariffs are continuing to constrain the market.

Maya Xiao, research manager at Interact Analysis, says: “2029 cobot revenues are now expected to reach approximately $2.5 billion. The core growth drivers remain labor shortages and rising labor costs, E-commerce expansion, the shift toward flexible manufacturing, and increasing cobot adoption in the service sector. These trends show no signs of weakening, underpinning a highly positive long-term outlook. Cobot shipments are expected to sustain a strong annual growth rate of 15%–20% through to 2029 at least.”

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