Application distribution of commercial drones in China 2022, by type

As of 2022, crop protection accounted for the largest area of application for commercial drones in China, with a share of over 30 percent in total sales revenue. In recent years, drones for commercial applications played an increasingly important role in the civilian UAV market.

Farming from above

In the agricultural sector, UAVs have many advantages due to China’s vast farmland. Especially, in remote or mountainous terrain, drones can be used for crop protection or can plant crops much more efficiently than traditional methods. Furthermore, compared to heavy machinery, the application of drones is much cheaper, which makes it affordable for smaller farming operations.

Developing an aerial economy

With its investments into smart cities, China is well on its way to developing the living environment of the future. Already today drones are used in the logistics industry to deliver individual packages. In addition to that, drones are employed to monitor traffic and crowds. Looking at the development of the industry, many drone manufacturers are increasing their focus on the commercial sector with products that will find uses in the cities of the future.