Across mystery, spy thriller, and even horror and pirate movies, a trope is frequently seen: A character, upon uncovering the final clue of a mystery, experiences a sense of elated gratification – that is, until a sudden realization leads them to discover that it provides only one piece of a far larger puzzle. The quest to understand the market for additive manufacturing (AM) machinery with any degree of specificity would fit this mold as well.
Until a reliable, frequent, and granular data set is widely available, estimating market size can be done using a variety of data sources and industry knowledge. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, the World Customs Organization took a step toward solving the AM market puzzle by adding codes for AM machinery to its index, enabling the technology’s international trade to be measured more directly. With data through the end of 2025, four full years of trade in additive machinery are available. While the data may be scant, making forecasting beyond the near term unreliable, it is sufficient to infer some general trends.
A quick disclaimer before beginning a closer analysis: While a cursory examination of the data immediately reveals some market trends, the figures for 2025 were estimated without a full year of data. Therefore, the general trends described will be accurate, but precise figures may change slightly by the time of publication.
That’s Trade Data, and You’ve Had Your Four
Since 2022, imports of additive machinery have been larger than exports by a growing multiple, reaching more than three times the exports in 2025. This pattern indicates a healthy and growing demand for additive technologies. Imports fell for the first recorded time in 2025, dropping nearly 14% from 2024. However, the modest decline was after imports nearly doubled between 2022 and 2024. Metal-printing machinery, plastic- or rubber-printing machinery, and machinery parts each accounted for slightly less than one-third of the trade in additive machinery. The roughly 7% of the market that remains is machinery for printing all other materials.
Trade in metal additive machinery tilts heavily to the import side, with the annual value of exports averaging one-tenth the value of imports. Imports declined in 2025 to roughly 2023 levels, while 2024 achieved around $30 million more than those years. Imports of plastic additive machines also declined in 2025, but by far less than the overall market. For the second consecutive year, the annual value of imported plastic additive technologies has surpassed that of metal-printing technologies. Exports of plastic additive machines exceeded imports in 2022 but have declined since, leaving total annual exports in 2025 at half the value of 2022.
Positively Shocking
Trade data alone cannot fully measure demand in the U.S. market for most forms of advanced industrial equipment, and additive manufacturing equipment is no different. Incorporating the trends revealed in the trade data into a matrix of related data points and trends will further refine our understanding of the market and its current trajectory. Solving the mystery at hand – measuring the market – is one step in piecing together the larger puzzle of running a business. General trends over short periods can help inform tactical decisions, but longer-term, more strategic business decisions require access to a more reliable, frequent, and granular data set. Once all the pieces of the puzzle are laid out, some positively shocking insights are sure to be revealed.
To read the rest of the State of Additive Issue of MT Magazine, click here.
