Industrial 3D printer shipments set for 2025 rebound

Shipments of industrial 3D printers are predicted to recover by the latter half of 2025, CONTEXT has revealed.

According to the market intelligence firm, while consumer-centric entry-level 3D printers priced under USD $2,500 saw a 41% increase in shipments during the first half of 2024, industrial systems priced over USD $100,000 experienced a 15% decline.

The midrange (USD $20,000 to USD $100,000) and professional (USD $2,500 to USD $20,000) printer categories also saw declines of 10% and 28% respectively. These findings underscore how fluctuations in demand have impacted different segments of the 3D printer market. Notably, entry-level and industrial printers accounted for the largest shares of aggregate revenues, contributing 43% and 42%, respectively.

CONTEXT reports that only the entry-level category is expected to report growth for the full year 2024. Shipments of more expensive printers, however, are forecast to reflect at least single-digit percentage declines compared to 2023 figures.

In 2024, regions like China experienced stronger demand for industrial 3D systems, with global demand leaning more towards metal-based systems rather than industrial polymer systems. Nonetheless, high interest rates and restricted capital expenditure have continued to dampen demand for larger 3D printers across key sectors.

Chris Connery, Vice President of Global Analysis at CONTEXT, noted, "Interest rates are beginning to fall, and the declining cost of capital has the high-end of the additive manufacturing industry poised for a rebound. We're seeing cautious optimism from system manufacturers which continue to report strong interest and engagement from buyers, ready to purchase once financing becomes more attractive."

Potential tariffs represent a new variable, but if interest rates continue their downward trend and pricing remains stable, sales are expected to bounce back by the second half of 2025. CONTEXT's forecasts project a 15% increase in industrial system shipments for 2025, largely powered by demand for metal printers, especially powder bed fusion models, with China predicted to spearhead this growth, returning sales figures to levels last observed in 2021 post-pandemic.

Connery added, "As global inflation continues to cool hand-in-hand with declining interest rates, other segments are also poised to see growth in 2025. Our forecasts show midrange shipments on track to rise 14%, and professional shipments 8%, over 2024. The latter class is still lagging as much of the previous demand for these printers has shifted to entry-level models. While it seems that entry-level shipments are cooling off a bit as 2024 winds down, they are still poised for another year of double-digit percentage growth in 2025 irrespective of changes in interest rates."

Amidst these dynamics, the adoption of additive manufacturing for high-volume production is seeing an increase, particularly in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and healthcare. CONTEXT's five-year projection for industrial 3D printer shipments remains positive, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 19%.