Global and Domestic Market Scale: High‑growth Structured Expansion

The global underwater robot industry has now reached a critical inflection point featuring large‑scale commercial application of technologies, multi‑level release of market demands, and in‑depth improvement of the industrial ecosystem. Having moved past the early stage of laboratory‑based technological exploration, it has achieved the leap from “single‑point pilot applications” to “full‑scenario commercial implementation”. Driven by both technological upgrading and scenario‑driven demand growth rather than mere sales volume expansion, the industry is witnessing structured growth.

According to the report released by China Research and Intelligence Industry Research Institute , the global intelligent underwater robot market reached USD 2.284 billion in 2025. It is projected to rise to USD 6.573 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.3% from 2026 to 2032 — a growth rate markedly higher than that of traditional marine equipment sectors.

China’s market acts as a core growth engine worldwide, sustaining growth rates ahead of the global average. Driven by the implementation of the Maritime Power Strategy, the upgrading of the marine economy and breakthroughs in domestic technologies, China’s underwater robot market size exceeded RMB 20 billion in 2026, with an average annual growth rate of 18%‑22% over the past three years, well above the global average. In terms of growth structure, industry increments show notable divergence: 70% of growth comes from value enhancement enabled by AI intelligent algorithms, high‑precision perception and improved deep‑sea endurance, while only 30% stems from equipment shipment growth. The industry has officially entered a high‑quality development phase where quality improvement takes priority over volume expansion.