Japanese robot manufacturers have significantly increased their production capacities in recent years: the export rate rose to 78% - a total of 136,069 industrial robots were delivered in 2020. This was reported by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) at the start of the International Robot Exhibition iREX, which will take place in Tokyo from March 9 to 12, 2022.

"Exports of Japanese industrial robots have recorded an average annual growth rate of 6% over the last five years," says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). "Robot imports to Japan, on the other hand, are extremely low. Only 2% of Japanese equipment was imported in 2020. After China, the Japanese domestic market for robots is the second largest in the world."

Japan's business success in China

Japan exported 36% of its robotics and automation technology to China. Like other international robot suppliers, Japanese manufacturers serve the Chinese market directly from their own production sites in China. After international supply chains were disrupted in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this strategy proved to be a great advantage in the world's largest market for industrial robots. Japanese suppliers benefited greatly from the Chinese boom after the crisis. The recovery began in the second quarter of 2020 and the economy subsequently picked up significantly in the second half of the year.

Upswing after the Covid-19 pandemic

The second most important market for Japanese exports of robotics and automation technology is the United States. The market share is 22%. Forecasts assume that both countries - the USA and China - will continue to recover from the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. Together with the Japanese domestic market, the most important foreign markets will secure demand for Japanese robotics.

"Robots in everyday life" - iREX Tokyo

"Japan is a high-tech country and a global pioneer in the use of robots in daily life," says Dr. Susanne Bieller, Secretary General of the International Federation of Robotics. "This year, the iREX trade fair in Tokyo presents the main theme 'Pathways to a friendlier society bridged by robots'. Numerous examples at iREX will show how robots are increasingly helping to shape our everyday lives. These include improved quality and availability of products, the environmentally friendly reduction of_{CO2 emissions}, improvements in the healthcare sector or in the care of the elderly."