National Bureau of Statistics Highlights 3D Printing: Output Up 40.5% in the First Three Quarters of 2025

October 20, 2025 — Panda3dp.com Exclusive
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has once again spotlighted the 3D printing industry in its latest quarterly economic report. According to the NBS, China’s 3D printer output surged by 40.5% year-on-year during the first three quarters of 2025 — outpacing both industrial robots (+29.8%) and new energy vehicles (+29.7%), underscoring the sector’s remarkable momentum.

1. 3D Printing Repeatedly Recognized by the NBS

Panda3dp.com reviewed NBS data over the past two years and found that 3D printing equipment has consistently appeared on national growth leaderboards, with more than ten official mentions since early 2024 — a testament to the sector’s rapid expansion and strategic significance.

Key statistics include:

· 1H 2025: Output up 43.1% YoY

· April 2025: Up 60.7% YoY

· Q1 2025: Up 44.9% YoY

· Jan–Feb 2025: Up 30.2% YoY

· July 2024: Up 25.3% YoY

· 1H 2024: Up 51.6% YoY

· May 2024: Up 36.3% YoY

· Q1 2024: Up 40.6% YoY

· Jan–Feb 2024: Up 49.5% YoY

Such sustained growth reflects the broader industrial transformation driven by digital manufacturing technologies and China’s strengthening position in the global 3D printing supply chain.

2. Central Media Coverage: 3D Printing Returns to the Spotlight

Once considered a niche or futuristic concept, 3D printing is now being extensively covered by major state media — including Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai Securities News, and CCTV — marking its return to mainstream attention.

Recent headlines include:

· “China’s 3D Printer Output Soars — Expected to Reach 7 Million Units This Year!”

· “3D Printing Farms Explode Nationwide — Featured by Xinhua and Shanghai Securities News”

· “CCTV Reports Again: 3D Printing Farms Running Nonstop with Over 5,500 Printers in Operation”

Unlike a decade ago, when the focus was largely on hype and speculation, today’s media spotlight highlights real industrial growth and broad application adoption — from consumer products to aerospace.

3. Venture Capital Floods the Sector

According to Panda3dp.com’s analysis, 2025 has seen an unprecedented surge in investment activity within China’s 3D printing sector.

· In the first three quarters alone, 61 companies secured 73 financing rounds, raising a total of RMB 5.7 billion — already surpassing the entire 2024 total.

· If this pace continues, 2025’s total investment is expected to exceed RMB 7.3 billion, setting a new industry record.

· Nearly every month has witnessed individual financing events exceeding RMB 200 million, signaling strong investor confidence and capital inflow.

(See Panda3dp.com’s in-depth report: “61 Companies Secure Funding as 3D Printing Investment Booms in 2025.”)

4. Explosive Growth in Consumer 3D Printing

Since early 2024, consumer-grade 3D printers — particularly low-cost FDM models priced around a few thousand CNY — have driven the majority of production growth.

In 2024, China’s 3D printer shipments reached roughly 5 million units, accounting for over 90% of global output. In 2025, the figure is projected to hit 7 million units — another major milestone.

Key drivers include:

· A rapidly expanding user base, from individual makers to small businesses and educational institutions.

· Booming downstream applications, particularly 3D-printed toys, which have gone viral on social media and e-commerce platforms.

· 3D printing farms, which emerged across China in 2024 — each equipped with dozens to thousands of machines, collectively producing hundreds of millions of toys such as jointed dragons, eggs, and snakes.

These products are sold through online shops, street markets, and cross-border e-commerce, reaching millions worldwide and significantly raising public awareness of 3D printing. Combined with AI-powered 3D modeling tools, creation and customization have become easier than ever, fueling a wave of grassroots creativity.

5. Global Trade Dynamics: Localization Advantage

Amid global trade friction, rising tariffs, and disrupted supply chains, 3D printing’s ability to enable rapid localized production has become increasingly valuable.

When logistics falter, 3D printing allows on-demand, decentralized manufacturing — a major advantage under deglobalization pressures. This adaptability has made it a strategic technology for both domestic resilience and international competitiveness.

6. Future Outlook: Toward a Trillion-CNY Market

Today, China is home to over 1,000 active 3D printing companies, spanning consumer, industrial, and metal additive sectors.

Major manufacturers such as BYD, Han’s Laser, Luxshare Precision, and Zhongshan Precision have already entered the industry, signaling a shift from equipment- and material-driven growth toward an application-driven ecosystem with trillion-CNY potential.

Applications now span:

· Consumer goods: 3D-printed toys exceeding hundreds of millions of units annually.

· 3C electronics: Metal 3D printing for smartphone and smartwatch components, potentially reaching tens of millions of pieces per year.

· Aerospace: 3D printing becoming a standard manufacturing process for rockets and satellites.

· Footwear: Major sports brands producing hundreds of thousands to millions of pairs of 3D-printed shoes featuring stylish designs and enhanced breathability.

Panda3dp.com Commentary

3D printing has moved beyond the concept stage and entered a phase of true industrial-scale adoption.

From mass-produced toys to metal components in consumer electronics, from rocket engines to footwear — 3D printing is reshaping China’s manufacturing landscape.

Driven by expanding applications, strong export demand, and accelerating investment, China’s 3D printing industry is transitioning from a hundred-billion-CNY market to a trillion-CNY opportunity, unlocking the next era of digital manufacturing and intelligent production.