Vacuum cleaners, industrial manipulators, and smart mechanisms — Chinese robotics is confidently marching across the planet. The first-quarter 2026 numbers speak for themselves.

According to data released on Wednesday, China's robotics sector sharply accelerated its expansion into overseas markets. Total exports for January–March reached 11.32 billion yuan (approximately 1.66 billion US dollars). Products were shipped to 148 countries and regions worldwide. The above material is provided by CCTV+.

The home robotics segment is particularly impressive. In just three months, vacuum cleaner robots alone were exported for 7.75 billion yuan (about 1.14 billion US dollars). That accounts for 68.5% of total exports — more than two-thirds. One in every two robot vacuums in the world is likely made in China.

But the biggest sensation is industrial robots. In the first three months of 2026, their exports grew by 42% compared to the same period last year, reaching 3.16 billion yuan (approximately 463.9 million US dollars). This is not just growth — it's a leap. And a crucial milestone: China has become a net exporter of industrial robots for the first time. That means it now sells more abroad than it buys.

Just a few years ago, China was considered the largest importer of industrial robots — Japanese, European, and American machines dominated its factories. Now the situation has completely reversed. Chinese robots are heading to factories in Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.

148 countries is not just a number. It's a geography of success: from smart vacuums in European homes to industrial manipulators on assembly lines in emerging industrial centers. Chinese robotics is no longer "catching up" — it has become competitive, and in some niches, even leading.

The first quarter of 2026 has shown that demand for Chinese robots is growing worldwide. And this looks like only the beginning.