SHANGHAI -- China remained the largest market for industrial robots in 2016, with sales rising by 26.6 percent year on year to 88,992, according to a report released by China Robot Industry Alliance.

The advanced robots, represented by multi-joint robots, account for 61.5 percent of total sales, and the market share of domestic-made robots reached 33 percent, the report said.

China is spreading the use of industrial robots in sectors including car manufacturing, aviation and home appliances.

According to the report, 3C industry (computers, communications and consumer electronics) will hopefully become the largest application field of industrial robots in the next three to five years.

China's robot density -- measured by the number of robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers -- was 49 in 2015, compared with the world average of 69. There is still plenty of room for growth.

"China's industrial robot development has entered the track of high-quality development, providing strong momentum for China to lead the world's new round of reform in intelligent manufacturing," said Qu Daokui, president of the alliance.

China is now in the critical stage of "Made in China 2025," a blueprint to move manufacturing up the value chain, developing several key sectors including robotics.

The development of industrial robots has become a major aspect in transforming and upgrading China's manufacturing industry.