Hamburg-based consultancy Ampower has published its 2025 Additive Manufacturing market report, offering a detailed analysis of global industry trends from 2024 and projecting developments over the next five years. The findings reveal a year of mixed fortunes for the sector, with combined revenues from industrial metal and polymer Additive Manufacturing growing by only about 2%. This modest increase marked a pause in the rapid expansion seen in prior years.
The metal segment contracted by 2.9% in 2024, reflecting reduced capital expenditure and production slowdowns across several industries. In contrast, polymer Additive Manufacturing recorded a 4.4% year-over-year increase, driven by steady adoption in consumer goods, automotive prototyping, and lightweight aerospace components. Ampower attributes the slowdown in overall growth to a combination of economic uncertainty, heightened geopolitical tensions, policy changes stemming from multiple national elections, and volatility in energy markets.
Despite the restrained revenue figures, material consumption for AM applications continued to climb at double-digit rates. This sustained demand points to ongoing investment in production capabilities and the integration of AM into critical manufacturing workflows. By late 2024 and into early 2025, many suppliers reported renewed activity as postponed projects resumed, suggesting that the downturn may have been temporary. Ampower’s outlook for 2025 anticipates a recovery fueled by fresh demand and technological innovation, with opportunities emerging across diverse industrial sectors.
Both buyers and suppliers surveyed for the report expressed optimism about the medium-term trajectory of the industry. While growth projections have been adjusted slightly downward from earlier expectations, respondents foresee continued expansion and broader adoption in high-value applications. The report highlights the defence sector as a significant driver of recent advancements, particularly in the United States and China. “The defence sector in the US and China have driven AM advancements in recent years,” stated Dr Maximilian Munsch, co-author and partner at Ampower. “As the European defence market awakens in the light of recent political shifts, new opportunities will arise for the European AM market.”
Medical and dental applications remain foundational to the AM ecosystem, together accounting for roughly 20% of total revenue. With global access to healthcare expanding, demand for patient-specific implants, orthodontic devices, and surgical tools is expected to grow. Meeting this demand will require scaling manufacturing capacity and refining production processes to ensure quality and regulatory compliance.
The methodology behind the AMPOWER Report 2025 involved more than 300 personal interviews with managers and directors deeply engaged in both the technological and commercial aspects of AM. The data set encompasses over 44,400 individual points, with equipment OEMs representing approximately 90% of the globally installed base participating in the survey. This broad engagement allowed for a demand-oriented evaluation, capturing perspectives from both suppliers and end users. Guest contributions within the report provide regional insights, detailing how local market conditions and policy frameworks influence AM adoption.
Ampower plans to host an online release event on April 2 at 4pm CET, where Dr Maximilian Munsch and fellow author Timo Führer will present exclusive findings and answer questions about the 2024 market and future outlook. The event will serve as a platform for industry stakeholders to engage directly with the report’s authors and explore the implications of its data for strategic planning and technology development.