Executive Summary

The China Additive Manufacturing Industry Yearbook 2024 captures a defining moment for the global AM sector. China, once considered a follower, has now become a primary driver of growth, innovation, and scale. With revenues reaching nearly 40 billion RMB in 2023, and a compound annual growth rate of 27% over the past five years, the industry is no longer a side story—it is a central force in the global manufacturing transformation.

Explosive Market Growth

Survey data from 66 core enterprises reveal a market expanding across the entire value chain. In 2023, equipment manufacturing revenues surged 61.9% year-on-year, supported by rapid adoption of non-metallic systems like stereolithography and extrusion, as well as large-format metal powder bed fusion systems. Dedicated materials output grew to 2,700 tons, with titanium alloys and high-temperature alloys taking the lead. Processing services, covering aerospace, medical, energy, and industrial applications, contributed over 2.1 billion RMB. Beyond revenues, the sector employed 15,000 professionals, with 30% directly engaged in R&D, showing the industry's high knowledge intensity.

Technology Independence and Leadership

A recurring theme is self-sufficiency. Where once China relied on imported technologies, today it leads in multiple categories. Domestic companies have achieved independent control over micro- and nano-printing, ceramic AM, and binder jetting processes. Flagship equipment like BLT's BLT-S1500 (26 lasers, 1.5 m build volume) and Eplus3D's EP-M2050 (largest LPBF system globally) are now benchmarks in scale and precision. Over 100 grades of dedicated AM materials—from titanium alloys and nickel superalloys to medical polymers and carbon fiber composites—have been developed in China, with metal powder production increasing 187% since 2020.

Expanding Application Ecosystem

Applications are no longer confined to aerospace and medicine. AM is now embedded in 39 major industries and 89 sub-sectors of the economy. Aerospace engines with >70% printed content, nuclear heat exchangers 80% lighter than conventional designs, dental prosthetics shipped in 24 hours, and consumer electronics entering mass adoption all show how AM is accelerating industrial upgrading. Traditional manufacturing is also being reshaped—casting cycles shortened by 90%, yield rates increased by 15%, and cost advantages maintained.

Global Impact and Exports

China is not only producing for itself but also reshaping global markets. In 2023, the country exported 3.7 million AM devices, a 63% increase, capturing leading positions in consumer printers. Most of the top 10 best-selling 3D printers on Amazon U.S. are Chinese brands, highlighting how domestic competitiveness translates into international market share. For the fourth consecutive year, AM delivered a trade surplus, reaching 6.3 billion RMB in 2023.

Investment Momentum

The sector attracted 7.3 billion RMB in financing in 2023, a record high and 28% year-on-year increase. Over 25 companies are now listed, including global leaders in equipment and materials. Another 39 are officially recognized as 'Little Giant' enterprises—specialized, innovative, and fast-growing firms at the heart of China's industrial strategy. These financing flows signal both investor confidence and government alignment with AM as a pillar of the new industrial economy.

Forward Outlook

Looking ahead, the market is projected to exceed 100 billion RMB by 2027, fueled by consumer electronics, automotive molds, dental applications, and next-generation hybrid manufacturing systems. Artificial Intelligence integration is emerging as a new accelerator, lowering design barriers, enabling mass personalization, and fostering distributed, networked manufacturing models. At the same time, users are evolving from 'should we use AM?' to 'how can we use AM?', pushing suppliers toward comprehensive solutions that bundle design, materials, equipment, process, and delivery.

In summary

The China Additive Manufacturing Industry Yearbook 2024 provides the clearest, most authoritative view yet into a market that is rapidly scaling in size, sophistication, and global relevance. For AM professionals, investors, and policymakers worldwide, this is not just a report—it is a strategic compass for navigating the next decade of advanced manufacturing.

Published by:
China Additive Manufacturing Industry Alliance
Guided by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)