Quick Summary
• For years, a lot of the discussion around China and additive manufacturing has focused on industrial competition. Can Chinese companies move into higher-end markets? Can they challenge Western machine makers...
Additional Context
For years, a lot of the discussion around China and additive manufacturing has focused on industrial competition. Can Chinese companies move into higher-end markets? Can they challenge Western machine makers in the metals industry? Can they become bigger players in high-end manufacturing?
While those questions might still be relevant, right now, China’s biggest impact in 3D printing is at the desktop level.
According to data shared by CBD Technology, China exported more than 5 million 3D printers in 2025. The total reached 5.03 million units, up 33% year over year, while export value rose to 11.36 billion RMB ($1.6 billion), up 39.1%. These figures are based on official data from the General Administration of Customs of China, with analysis from Nanjixiong (南极熊), one of the country’s lea