Japan is the world’s leading manufacturer of industrial robots, accounting for 45 percent of global supply. The country’s robot suppliers have significantly improved their production capacity in recent years.
In 2020, they shipped 136,069 industrial robots, increasing their export ratio to 78 percent. These are the findings released by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) ahead of the International Robot Exhibition (iREX) in Tokyo, which will be held from March 9 to 12, 2022.
“Exports of Japanese industrial robots on average had a compound annual growth rate of 6% in the last five years”, says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
He adds, “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.”
Japan´s success in China
China accounted for 36% of Japanese robotics and automation technology exports. Japanese manufacturers, like other international robot producers, serve the Chinese market directly from their plants in China.
These factories on the world’s largest industrial robot market proved to be a significant benefit in 2020, when international supply networks were disrupted owing to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Japanese suppliers reaped the full benefits of China’s post-crisis growth, which began in the second quarter of 2020 and accelerated in the second half of the year.
Rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic
With a market share of 22%, the United States is the other top market for Japanese exports of robotics and automation technology. Both countries – the US and China – are expected to further rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic. Together with the domestic market, the major export destinations will secure demand for Japanese robotics.
“Robots in Daily Life” – iREX Tokyo
“Japan is a highly robotized country and a global frontrunner in the use of robots for everyday life”, says 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.”
iREX International Robot Exhibition Tokyo Big Sight, East Halls – March 9-12, 2022
The International Robot Show was founded in 1974 and has since been held every two years, with the 24th exhibition taking place this year. The latest expo, held in 2019, saw 637 companies and organizations participate, with a total of 3060 exhibits, the highest number ever.
Outside of Japan, the number of exhibitors increased to 95 enterprises and organizations from 16 countries. Total visitor counts surpassed 140,000, and the exhibition continues to draw interest from across the world as one of the world’s largest robot trade fairs, with roughly 7,000 overseas visitors from 64 nations.