North American companies ordered 10,989 robots valued at $723.5 million in the third quarter of 2026, according to data from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), marking a 24.8% increase in units and a 26.1% increase in value compared with the same quarter of 2025.
What Happened
For the first nine months of 2026, total orders reached 28,984 robots worth approximately $1.89 billion, up 9.6% in units and 13.3% in value over the same period last year.
By segment, automotive OEM orders returned to positive year-over-year growth in the third quarter, rising 7.5% after declining in the first half. Automotive component orders climbed 90.4%. Semiconductor and electronics/photonics orders rose 97.6% in units, plastics and rubber 67.7%, life sciences/pharma/biomedical 38.7%, and metals 37.0%. Food and consumer goods orders fell 23.7% in units.
Alex Shikany, executive vice president at A3, said the third quarter stood out not only for the scale of growth but for how broadly it was distributed across the market, pointing to an increasingly diversified robotics sector.
Background
Robot orders are often viewed as a leading indicator of manufacturing capital spending. Demand had previously been concentrated in the automotive sector, making overall figures sensitive to OEM investment cycles. The third-quarter rebound in OEM orders alongside gains in components and electronics suggests a more balanced demand base.
At the same time, declines in food and consumer goods show that automation investment is proceeding at different paces across segments.
Impact on Shippers
For shippers exporting from China to the US, expanding automation investment in North American manufacturing typically translates into more cross-border demand for industrial equipment, components and electronic parts. Such cargo is often high-value and requires strict packaging and shock protection, making transit time and damage control more critical when choosing between ocean and air channels.
On the customs side, robots and related motors, controllers and sensors involve complex classification and declaration elements, including product name, use and material. Inaccurate declarations can trigger inspections and delays, so shippers should confirm HS codes and declaration details with the consignee in advance.
Recommendations
Shippers are advised to review declaration elements for their export categories, evaluate insurance and packaging for high-value equipment, and combine ocean parcel, ocean truck and air options based on delivery requirements. For seasonal categories, booking space earlier in line with order cycles can help avoid capacity tightness during peak shipping periods.