U.S. Industrial Robot Imports from China

## What this measures

The value of industrial robots the U.S. imported each month from China, in millions of dollars (general imports, customs value). Much of the U.S. supply of industrial robots is imported, so imports are a close read of new robot purchases by U.S. plants.

## Why it matters

Robot purchases are a measure of factory automation and of investment in manufacturing capacity, including the reshoring of production.

## How to read it

Higher means more robots imported that month. Monthly values swing with large orders, so compare yearly averages. Compare with the total (trade.industrial_robots.us_imports).

## What it does not say

HS 8479.50 covers general-purpose industrial robots. Robots built into another machine's heading (some welding, painting and pick-and-place machines) are classified there and are not in it. Values are customs values, not prices paid by the factory, and a single large order can make a month. It says nothing about robots made in the U.S.

## Source

U.S. Census Bureau, international trade data, general imports of HS 8479.50 (industrial robots). Public domain.