Additive Manufacturing: Business situation improves, expectations cautiously positive

The additive manufacturing industry is in a more stable overall condition in autumn 2026 than in previous years. "The results of the autumn survey show that the situation of many companies has improved. However, it would be premature to speak of a fundamental trend reversal. The companies are cautiously assessing their current situation but continue to see good prospects for the development of additive manufacturing in the coming years," explains Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of the Additive Manufacturing Working Group in the VDMA. The working group unites manufacturers and users along the entire additive value chain. The members work with various additive manufacturing processes and different materials and use them for series products, prototypes, assembly aids and other applications.

The business development of the past twelve months is significantly better than in previous years. Only 15 percent of the companies surveyed report declining sales, while 64 percent report a positive development. By comparison, in the fall of 2025, 29 percent of companies reported declining sales, while only 45 percent reported growth. This continues the improvement that was already visible in the spring 2026 survey.

Positive expectations, but no spirit of optimism

Positive expectations prevail for the further development of the German additive manufacturing market. For the next twelve months, 40 percent of the companies expect market demand to increase, while 53 percent expect a stable development. Only 6 percent expect a decline. Even over the next two years, the mood remains predominantly positive: 67 percent expect market growth, 28 percent expect a stable development. Compared to the spring, expectations have hardly changed. The positive mood remains.

International markets remain important

The majority of companies expect a stable or growing export business. For the next twelve months, 52 percent expect export sales to increase, while 39 percent expect the development to remain unchanged. Over the next two years, 63 percent expect foreign sales to increase. At the same time, only a small minority express declining expectations.

The European Union remains the most important sales market with 73 percent of the mentions. In addition, the USA continues to play a central role in the industry's international business with 71 percent. At the same time, Asian markets are gaining in importance. China in particular is mentioned as a relevant export market much more often than in previous surveys. International competition remains intense. The growing importance of American competitors is particularly striking.

Companies are sticking to investments

Despite a persistently challenging economic environment, companies' investment plans remain stable. For the next twelve months, 72 percent of respondents plan to continue investing in additive manufacturing. A further 22 percent expect investments to increase, while only 7 percent want to reduce their expenses. Despite ongoing economic uncertainties, companies are thus continuing to focus on the technological development of their additive manufacturing activities.

The companies cite new applications (53 percent), technological developments (51 percent) and new markets (42 percent) as the most important positive factors influencing their own business. Research and development as well as the development of additional foreign markets also remain relevant.

Focus on technology development and industrialization

Among the most important future topics for the industry, the focus is on technology development (61 percent), costs (57 percent), process stability and reproducibility (50 percent), series production (48 percent), new applications (46 percent) and market acceptance (43 percent). In terms of application fields, mechanical engineering is less often mentioned by respondents as the dominant field of application than in previous surveys. Additive manufacturing processes, on the other hand, are more widespread, especially in aviation and medical technology.

"The survey shows that additive manufacturing is further consolidating its position as an industrial technology. It will now be crucial to bring new applications economically to a broad scale and to exploit the potential of the technology even more in industrial practice," Heering summarizes.