The United States industrial robot market returned to double-digit growth in 2025, with installations rising 11% year-on-year to reach 38,000 units. This significant recovery is driven by robust growth in the food industry and other non-manufacturing sectors, according to preliminary statistics published by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The automotive industry remains the largest adopter, reaching 13,500 units, just 1% below the previous year's result.

Takayuki Ito, President of the International Federation of Robotics, stated that the United States is back on the growth track. He noted that while the automotive sector achieved its third-best result in seven years, the data highlights a growing demand for flexible automation in the food industry. Adoption in this sector surged by 30%, now ranking alongside metal and machinery and electrical-electronics, all with approximately 3,000 installations in 2025.

Robot Density and Global Ranking

The degree of automation in the US, as measured by robot density, stands at 307 industrial robots in use for every 10,000 employees in the manufacturing industry. This places the US in 8th position worldwide, moving up two ranks from the previous year. The US trails behind top automated countries such as South Korea, Germany, and Japan, but remains ahead of China in terms of density.

United States vs. China

China far outperforms the rest of the world in terms of market size. Annual installations in China reached 295,000 units in 2024, representing a global market share of 54%. Preliminary results for China in 2025 are not yet published, but according to IFR estimates, installations are about ten times higher than the number in the United States.

IFR Vice President Jane Heffner will present the preliminary figures on industrial robot installations for the North American market at the Automate Show 2026 in Chicago. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, 24 June at 10:30 AM at the Automate Show Theatre.

Vice President JD Vance stated during a White House press briefing that the administration expects a final deal with Iran to ensure the nation does not possess missiles that threaten the entire world. The remarks highlight the strategic objectives of ongoing negotiations concerning Iran's military capabilities.

Key Expectations

Vance outlined the primary goal of the prospective agreement, focusing on global security concerns related to missile proliferation.

Strategic Objectives

• Missile Limitation: The deal aims to prevent Iran from holding missiles that pose a global threat.
• Final Agreement: The Vice President expressed confidence that these terms would be part of any finalized accord.

Negotiation Timeline

Vance noted that final negotiations will set terms for after 60 days. He added that the administration plans to brief Congress very soon regarding the status of the talks.

The briefing provided insight into the administration's stance on non-proliferation and its expectations for the conclusion of diplomatic talks with Iran.