A multi-robot BMS assembly validation line developed by PIA Automation for embodied-intelligence manufacturing. [Photo/Yongpai app]

Robot exports are emerging as a fast-growing driver of trade through Ningbo, as local companies bring everything from cleaning robots to embodied AI systems to overseas markets.

According to Ningbo Customs, robot exports through Ningbo port reached 720 million yuan ($106 million) in the first half of 2026, up 160 percent year-on-year. Products included industrial robots, cleaning robots, surgical robots, and biomimetic robots.

Among them, industrial robot exports totaled 340 million yuan, while cleaning robots accounted for 380 million yuan and recorded particularly strong growth.

One company contributing to that growth is Zhejiang Ounitech Robotics Co, whose AI-powered commercial cleaning robots are now sold in more than 40 countries and regions, including the United States and Russia. Equipped with AI route-planning systems and 3D SLAM technology, the robots can adapt to environments ranging from retail stores to industrial warehouses. The company expects its output value to increase fourfold this year.

Beyond service robots, Ningbo is also advancing embodied AI and humanoid robotics. The city has developed a relatively complete industrial chain covering key components such as reducers, controllers, and servo motors, as well as robot manufacturing and systems integration.

At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Ningbo-based PIA Automation Holding Corp demonstrated a production line where multiple embodied AI robots worked together to assemble and transport battery management system (BMS) components without human intervention. The company says the system can operate around the clock and has already attracted interest from customers, including overseas buyers.

Another Ningbo-developed embodied AI solution was showcased at the Hannover Messe 2026 in Germany, where a laboratory automation system built around humanoid robots demonstrated fully automated workflows from sample handling to data collection.

To support growing demand, Ningbo Customs has introduced expedited clearance services and dedicated channels for robot exports, helping manufacturers deliver products to international markets more efficiently.