China’s AgiBot has surpassed its domestic rival Unitree Robotics to become the world’s largest humanoid robot vendor in the first half of 2026, according to new research, as both industry heavyweights prepare for public listings amid a physical AI boom.Shanghai-based Agibot captured 44 per cent of the global market after shipping roughly 8,400 humanoid robots from January to June, San Francisco-based research firm Smart Analytics Global (SAG) said in a report published on Sunday.AgiBot’s shipments surged 562 per cent year on year, supported by a diversified product portfolio that included full-size bipedal A-series models, compact X-series units, and wheeled G-series robots, the research firm noted.Hangzhou-based Unitree fell to second place, shipping about 5,900 units to secure 31 per cent of the global market, SAG reported. Unlike AgiBot’s multi-line push, Unitree’s humanoid shipments remained concentrated in its flagship G1 model, with education, research and performance deployments making up a substantial share.The shift comes as both companies race towards capital markets.The Unitree Robotics booth at the China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference in Shanghai, August 3, 2026. Photo: VCG via Getty ImagesUnitree is preparing for a closely watched listing on Shanghai’s Star Market, an offering widely seen as a bellwether for mainland China’s emerging humanoid sector. The company set its initial public offering price at 150.8 yuan per share, expecting to raise roughly 6.1 billion yuan (US$904 million), according to a filing on Thursday.