Manufacturing activity within the additive manufacturing (AM) sector continued to expand in 2025, with the global 3D printing and AM market reaching $16.0 billion, according to Additive Manufacturing Research (AM Research), which said the industry is showing signs of renewed growth momentum across key manufacturing segments.
In its “Q4 2025 3DP/AM Market Data and Forecast” and accompanying “3DP/AM Market Insights: Q4 2025” report, AM Research said total manufacturing-linked AM markets – including metal, polymer, ceramic 3D printers, materials, and services – grew 10.2% year over year, compared with 8.3% in 2024.
The firm also reported sequential growth from $4.0 billion in Q3 2025 to $4.26 billion in Q4 2025.
AM Research Executive Vice President Scott Dunham said 2025 reflected shifting conditions across manufacturing demand and supply dynamics in the sector.
“2025 was a story of two markets, with the first half of the year largely in line with the tougher times of the last two years, but in the second half of 2025 we saw what we believe is the start of a significant turnaround for AM,” Dunham said.
He added that while competitive pressures remain, “it’s become clear we’re at a point where growth is flowing back into the market.”
The report showed the metal AM segment reached $1.67 billion in Q4 2025 and $6.27 billion for the full year, while the polymer AM market recorded $2.59 billion in Q4 and $9.79 billion annually.
AM services, which AM Research described as a growing share of manufacturing activity in the sector, totaled $2.21 billion in Q4 and $8.53 billion for 2025.
According to AM Research, manufacturing demand across AM applications in 2025 remained strongly linked to sectors including medical, space, and defense and maritime.
The company noted that rocket engines are expected to become one of the most significant applications for metal AM in terms of manufacturing value created through 2034.
The report also highlighted ongoing changes in the AM print services market, which AM Research said is expected to generate tens of billions in revenue over the next decade as the largest segment of the industry.
It noted a resurgence in integrated manufacturing approaches, with companies such as Fabric8Labs, Seurat, and Velo3D operating in an environment where demand for AM is increasing but implementation challenges persist.
For more information AM Research’s market data services, visit: https://additivemanufacturingresearch.com/data-services/
