Global shipments of humanoid robots are expected to reach about 18,000 units in 2025, up around 508% from a year earlier, according to a report released on Friday by International Data Corporation.

IDC said the market is entering a phase of rapid expansion, with demand spreading across six main application areas: entertainment, scientific research, data collection, guided services, intelligent manufacturing and warehousing.

The report said China-based AgiBot ranked first by shipment volume in five of the six commercial application scenarios identified, highlighting its early lead in real-world deployments.