Additive Manufacturing Market Shows More Measured Growth

The additive manufacturing (AM) market continued to expand in 2025, with growth increasingly concentrated in production applications across aerospace, defense, medical and industrial sectors, according to an analysis from AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

AMT estimates the global additive manufacturing market reached approximately $12.5 billion in 2025 and projects the market could reach $20.3 billion by 2030. The projected growth represents a more measured trajectory than some earlier industry forecasts.

The market's development reflects a continued focus on applications with defined production requirements and measurable outcomes. Factors including qualification requirements, cost per part, material availability and performance, machine utilization and integration with existing manufacturing processes are increasingly influencing adoption.

Additive Manufacturing Shifts Toward Production Applications

AMT's analysis indicates that additive manufacturing is continuing to move beyond research and development toward more established production applications.

Service providers represented the largest portion of the AM market in 2025, with revenue increasing by approximately $630 million from 2024. Materials revenue also increased by more than $600 million, while industrial systems revenue remained relatively flat compared with the previous year.

The difference in performance among these subsectors may indicate greater use of existing additive manufacturing equipment rather than significant expansion through new system purchases. Increased materials consumption and activity among service providers could also reflect higher utilization of installed AM capacity.

For manufacturers, the economics of individual applications remain an important consideration. Qualification requirements, material costs, post-processing and production volumes can influence whether additive manufacturing provides an advantage over conventional manufacturing methods.

Investment Activity Focuses on Commercial Applications

Investment activity in additive manufacturing during 2025 included venture capital funding, mergers and acquisitions, and public-market investment.

According to AMT's analysis, investment increasingly focused on companies and technologies with established applications, demonstrated returns on investment and potential for production scalability.

The industry also experienced consolidation and restructuring as companies evaluated business models, operating efficiency and opportunities for vertical integration.

This represents a shift from earlier investment cycles that frequently emphasized platform development and broad adoption of additive manufacturing technology. The current market environment places greater emphasis on the ability to demonstrate commercial applications and production value.

Regional Additive Manufacturing Growth Varies

AMT reported different growth rates across the major geographic regions between 2021 and 2025:

• Asia-Pacific (APAC): 13.1%
• Americas (AMER): 11.7%
• Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA): 1.8%

The stronger growth in APAC has been associated with expanding additive manufacturing activity within Asian manufacturing ecosystems.

In the Americas, demand from aerospace, defense, medical and advanced manufacturing applications has contributed to market growth.

EMEA recorded slower growth during the period. Factors identified in the analysis include broader industrial conditions, cautious capital investment and selective adoption of additive manufacturing in automotive and industrial machinery applications.

A more established installed base in portions of Europe may also be contributing to a greater focus on equipment utilization, qualification and productivity rather than new system purchases.

Challenges Continue to Affect AM Adoption

Despite the market's continued growth, additive manufacturing faces several challenges that can affect adoption and production scalability.

These include qualification timelines, material availability, workforce skills and post-processing requirements. Manufacturers must also determine whether additive manufacturing can meet existing production standards while providing measurable advantages compared with traditional manufacturing processes.

As a result, AM adoption is increasingly being evaluated based on factors such as production economics, part performance, throughput and integration with existing manufacturing operations.

Additive Manufacturing Featured at IMTS 2026

Additive manufacturing will be among the technologies featured at IMTS 2026 – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, scheduled for Sept. 14-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

AMT plans to showcase additive manufacturing applications through the AMT Emerging Technology Center. Featured demonstrations include the Aires Tide project from Sandia National Laboratories and a production system designed to manufacture drone airframes during the six-day event.

The drone production demonstration will combine additive and hybrid manufacturing with robotics, automation and digital twin technologies. The project involves AMT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, FANUC, Haimer, Kennametal, Mazak and Schunk.

The demonstrations are intended to show how additive manufacturing can be integrated with other production technologies in applications requiring flexible manufacturing and rapid production.

Overall, the 2025 market data indicates that additive manufacturing continues to develop as a production technology, with manufacturers increasingly evaluating applications based on cost, qualification, utilization and integration alongside technical capabilities.