China & aerospace lift high-end global 3D printing

Global shipments of industrial 3D printing systems returned to year-on-year growth in the third quarter of 2025, as demand from aerospace and defence and a rebound in China’s domestic market lifted activity at the high end of the sector.

Market data from CONTEXT showed total hardware system revenues rose 5% year-on-year in the quarter. The firm said growth came from both industrial platforms and entry-level machines.

Industrial systems, defined by CONTEXT as machines priced above USD $100,000, increased 3% year-on-year in unit shipments. The firm said the market had seen two years of weak demand at the high end.

“The mood across the high end of the market is still cautious, but it is no longer defensive,” said Chris Connery, Vice President of Global Analysis, CONTEXT. “The industry has moved past the expansion-at-any-cost phase and is now concentrating on sectors where additive manufacturing is already delivering clear economic value. Aerospace, defence and domestic Chinese manufacturing are doing most of the heavy lifting.”

China rebound

CONTEXT said China recorded the strongest growth in industrial shipments. Unit shipments in the country rose 22% year-on-year. CONTEXT described China as the largest contributor to global industrial volumes again during the quarter.

The recovery centred on metal systems, rather than polymer platforms. CONTEXT said industrial polymer platforms continued to face headwinds.

Metal Powder Bed Fusion systems led the rebound. CONTEXT reported global shipments of metal powder bed fusion systems increased 25% year-on-year.

Chinese vendors ZRapid Tech and BLT registered the most significant year-on-year shipment growth in the quarter, according to CONTEXT.

CONTEXT linked Chinese demand to domestic aerospace and private space activity. It said shipments from Chinese metal powder bed fusion vendors rose 35% year-on-year and that most of those systems remained within the local market.

Western aerospace and defence customers also increased buying activity, CONTEXT said. It described the pace as more measured than the Chinese market.

Supplier mix

Among Western suppliers, CONTEXT said EOS posted revenue growth of 20% year-on-year during the quarter. CONTEXT said Nikon SLM Solutions maintained its position in large-format metal systems.

CONTEXT reported revenue growth from China’s Eplus3D. It said demand shifted toward multi-laser, extra-large platforms.

BLT recorded double-digit year-to-date revenue growth, according to CONTEXT. The firm did not disclose a specific percentage for that period.

Midrange pressure

Midrange systems, priced between USD $20,000 and USD $100,000, remained under pressure in the quarter. CONTEXT said shipments fell 13% year-on-year.

CONTEXT attributed the decline to financing constraints and the uneven impact of regional on-shoring initiatives.

The quarter also included a product move from HP. CONTEXT said HP announced at Formnext that it would enter industrial polymer material extrusion with a new filament platform.

CONTEXT listed unit shipment leaders across the combined industrial and midrange classes. The companies included UnionTech, Stratasys, ZRapid Tech, Formlabs, 3D Systems, Flashforge, HP, Nano Dimension including Markforged, EOS and BLT.

CONTEXT said UnionTech, ZRapid Tech, BLT, EOS and HP recorded positive year-on-year shipment growth.

Professional decline

The professional price band, covering systems priced between USD $2,500 and USD $20,000, declined 14% year-on-year, according to CONTEXT.

Material extrusion systems drove the contraction. CONTEXT said shipments of FDM and FFF printers in the professional price class fell again as users migrated to lower-priced entry-level machines.

Vat photopolymerisation systems held up better, CONTEXT said. It reported that Formlabs held around 40% unit share in the price band, supported by product refreshes.

CONTEXT also pointed to increased interest in lower-priced continuous composite fibre systems. It said FibreSeek, formerly Anisoprint, raised more than USD $4.5 million via Kickstarter.

Entry-level surge

Entry-level systems priced at USD $2,500 or below increased 18% year-on-year in unit shipments in the quarter. CONTEXT said technical and price changes from China drove the expansion.

The segment also attracted strategic investment activity, according to CONTEXT. It said Bambu Lab was widely reported to be closing a significant funding round.

CONTEXT said DJI made a strategic investment in Elegoo. It described the move as a diversification by the drone manufacturer.

Snapmaker secured tens of millions of dollars in Series B funding following a crowdfunding campaign, CONTEXT said. It also said Creality filed an IPO prospectus for a Hong Kong listing.

CONTEXT described market concentration as high in entry-level systems. It said Bambu Lab and Creality accounted for 57% of global entry-level shipments during the quarter.

2026 expectations

CONTEXT expects global additive manufacturing revenues to grow at a modest single-digit rate for full-year 2025. It expects stronger momentum building into 2026. It also said recent interest rate cuts in the United States could ease capital spending constraints from early next year.

“Much of 2025 was spent simplifying operations and clearing the decks of M&A distractions,” said Connery. “Supply chain resilience, defence investment and regional manufacturing strategies continue to favour additive manufacturing. China is leading the recovery today, but improving access to capital should support a broader rebound across Western markets next year.”