Press releases
3D printing market in the second quarter of 2025: entry-level devices on the rise, industrial equipment still under pressure
The global market for 3D printers remains clearly divided in the second quarter of 2025. According to a recent analysis by market research company CONTEXT, demand for affordable entry-level devices is growing strongly, while sales in the industrial and professional sectors continue to stagnate. High interest rates, inflation and reluctant investment are having a particularly negative impact on the high-priced market segments.
According to CONTEXT analyst Chris Connery, the trend of differing market developments is continuing. While consumers are increasingly turning to affordable devices, manufacturers of industrial equipment are struggling with consolidation and a reduced willingness to invest. Overall, global sales of 3D printing hardware remained stable year-on-year. An increase of 21% in the entry-level device segment - mainly due to high sales figures from manufacturers such as Bambu Lab - could not compensate for declines in other categories. Sales of professional systems fell by 29% and in the mid-range and industrial price segments by 11% and 14% respectively.
The downturn in industrial systems is particularly evident. Company takeovers and insolvencies, for example at Desktop Metal, led to further slumps. The merger of Nano Dimension, Markforged and Desktop Metal also had no positive effect. Some manufacturers were nevertheless able to hold their own: HP recorded strong growth thanks to targeted upgrade strategies, and Stratasys also reported rising deliveries. In the metal powder bed process (PBF), Eplus3D took the lead in terms of unit sales, while EOS and Nikon remained sales leaders despite declining units.
In the mid-price segment, delivery figures shrank, particularly for Western manufacturers such as 3D Systems and Stratasys. Chinese suppliers such as UnionTech, on the other hand, benefited from strong domestic demand. The demand for professional FDMThe market for resin printers collapsed as many users switched to high-performance, low-cost entry-level models. Only the resin printers from Formlabs maintained their position.
The consumer segment remains the clear growth driver. Bambu Lab and Snapmaker achieved high sales figures, while Creality is undergoing restructuring as part of its planned IPO. CONTEXT expects the pressure in the industrial segment to ease in 2026 at the earliest - provided that falling interest rates stimulate investment again.
