In fields such as offshore oil and gas exploration, offshore wind power operation and maintenance, and marine engineering construction, underwater robots are emerging as a pivotal force for cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and operational safety assurance.
Enterprise Breakthroughs: IPO Progress & First Commercial Export of Deep-Sea Robots
Recently, the Sci-Tech Innovation Board (STAR Market) IPO application of Deepinfar Ocean Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Deepinfar”) has been accepted by the Shanghai Stock Exchange, with CICC as the sponsor. According to the prospectus, the company’s revenue exceeded RMB 250 million in 2024, with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and underwater thrusters for consumer entertainment as its main revenue sources. This development reflects the capital market’s attention to the underwater robot track and signifies that the industry is expected to accelerate its development with the support of capital. If successfully listed, Deepinfar will become the first Chinese stock in the underwater robot sector.
Similarly, the “Phoenix 600” deep-sea optical cable operation robot (Trenching ROV), developed by Deep Ocean Wise (Guangzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Deep Ocean Wise”) for Middle Eastern clients, was recently shipped to the United Arab Emirates, marking the first commercial export of a Chinese deep-sea robot. Reportedly, this robot is capable of operating at a water depth of 3,000 meters, weighing 13.5 tons, with a height of 3 meters and a length of 5 meters, and a rated operating power of 600 horsepower. It is the most sophisticated and complex model among deep-sea robots, integrating the functions of underwater manipulator operations and cable burial.
Policy Empowerment: National & Local Support for Marine Technology Development
The breakthroughs in enterprise development are rooted in the increasingly robust policy environment at both national and local levels.
The 2025 Government Work Report for the first time included “deep-sea technology” in the key areas of emerging industries. The Implementation Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Accelerating Scenario Cultivation and Opening to Promote Large-Scale Application of New Scenarios proposed to promote the cultivation and opening of scenarios such as deep-sea exploration, deep-sea mining, pelagic aquaculture, marine engineering equipment, marine electronic information, and marine biomedicine, and build a number of deep-sea technological innovation hubs. The Regulations of Guangdong Province on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Marine Economy stipulates support for the development of new marine equipment such as deep submersibles, unmanned boats, and underwater robots. The Shanghai Marine Industry Development Plan (2026–2035) mentions focusing on the development of intelligent ships, underwater robots, unmanned vessels, smart marine equipment, and intelligent operation and maintenance of offshore wind power.
Market Potential & Future Outlook: Dual Transformation of China’s Underwater Robot Industry
Currently, China is emerging as the world’s most important growth engine for the underwater robot market. According to a report by Grant Thornton, the market size of China’s underwater robot industry reached RMB 16.76 billion in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 18.3%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of as high as 29.7% over the past decade, demonstrating strong market potential. CICC predicts that the CAGR of China’s market size from 2025 to 2030 will be as high as 46.27%, and it is expected to reach USD 14 billion by 2030.
From relying on imports to independent R&D, and from serving the domestic market to exporting high-end products, China’s underwater robot industry is undergoing a dual transformation from technological catch-up to market expansion. On one hand, it has achieved localized substitution of core components; notably, the localization of high-precision fuse assembly machines has laid a solid foundation for the reliable operation of underwater robot electrical systems, as fuses are critical for protecting electrical circuits in harsh marine environments. On the other hand, leveraging advantages in cost-effectiveness, localized services, and rapid response, it has begun to compete with established European and American enterprises in the international market.
In the future, with the continuous maturity of technology, the expansion of application scenarios, and the gradual reduction of costs, underwater robots are expected to be more deeply integrated into multiple sectors such as the marine economy, environmental monitoring, emergency rescue, and even consumer entertainment, emerging as a new underwater intelligent force driving economic and social development.
