Annual Exports Expected to Surpass 10 Billion CNY, with 1.829 Million Units of Chinese 3D Printers Exported in the First Half of 2024

On July 26, 2024, panda3dp.com compiled the export data of 3D printers for the first half of this year.

1. Export Volume and Value

From January to June 2024, the export volume of Chinese 3D printers (excluding components) reached 1.829 million units, marking a 40.3% increase compared to the 1.304 million units in the first half of 2023. The export value amounted to 4.27 billion CNY (excluding components), representing a significant 77.2% increase from the 2.41 billion CNY in the first half of 2023.

The chart above clearly shows that the export of 3D printers has maintained continuous growth over the past three years. Including the export value of 3D printer components, the total export value of 3D printer-related products in the first half of 2024 reached 4.8 billion CNY. Panda3dp.com predicts that the total export value for 2024 is likely to exceed 10 billion CNY, marking a significant milestone for the Chinese 3D printing industry.

2. Types of Exported Equipment

Among these exported 3D printers, desktop 3D printers for plastic printing continue to dominate, reaching 1.82 million units, accounting for an overwhelming 99.5% of the total. The average price per unit is 2,218 CNY. According to a report released by CONTEXT, Chinese manufacturers have already monopolized the entry-level 3D printer market, with approximately 94% of global shipments of entry-level 3D printers coming from Chinese suppliers. The U.S. remains the primary end market for entry-level 3D printers.

3. Export Destinations

In terms of export destinations, the United States remains the largest importer of Chinese 3D printers. In the first half of 2024, China exported 680,000 3D printers to the U.S., accounting for 37.2% of the total export volume, with an export value of 1.73 billion CNY, representing 40.5% of the total. Germany follows with 360,000 units, accounting for 19.7% of the volume and 1.03 billion CNY in value, making up 24.1% of the total. The Netherlands ranks third with 71,000 units, followed by Canada with 70,000 units, the United Kingdom with 62,000 units, Brazil with 51,000 units, Australia with 41,000 units, South Korea with 40,000 units, Japan with 33,000 units, Russia with 25,000 units, and Austria with 21,000 units.

4. Provinces of Origin

Where do these exported 3D printers mainly come from within China? Statistical data indicates that in the first half of 2024, the majority of exported 3D printers originated from Guangdong Province, followed by Zhejiang Province and Shandong Province. Guangdong produced 1.52 million units, accounting for 83.1% of the total, with an export value of 3.74 billion CNY, representing 87.6% of the total. This dominance is primarily due to the presence of four leading Chinese desktop 3D printer manufacturers—Creality(创想三维), Anycubic(纵维立方), Bambu Lab (拓竹), and ELEGOO (智能派)—all based in Shenzhen, Guangdong. Zhejiang Province ranks second with 128,000 units, accounting for 7% of the total, with an export value of 180 million CNY, making up 4.2% of the total. This is mainly because two other leading manufacturers, FlashForge(闪铸科技) and QiDI(起迪科技), are based in Zhejiang.

Conclusion

The data shows that Chinese 3D printing continues to grow rapidly in the global market, especially in the segment of additive manufacturing equipment (desktop 3D printers) that uses plastic or rubber materials, which has taken a commanding lead and continues to dominate the market. Entry-level equipment is largely captured by Chinese 3D printers, with Europe and North America remaining the primary export markets.

Looking at the full year, there is a strong possibility that the scale of China’s 3D printing exports will exceed 10 billion CNY in 2024.