3D Printing Markets Reach $4.35 Billion in Q1 2026

The global 3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) market generated $4.35 billion in revenue during the first quarter of 2026, according to a new report by Additive Manufacturing Research (AMR). This figure represents a 13.1% year-over-year increase, building on momentum from the latter half of 2025. The sequential growth saw the market expand from $4.29 billion in Q4 2025 to the Q1 2026 total.

AMR's "Q1 2026 3DP/AM Market Data and Forecast" reports detail the performance of both polymer and metal AM markets. The metal AM sector grew to $1.76 billion in Q1 2026, up from $1.52 billion in the same quarter last year. Similarly, the polymer AM market saw an increase, reaching $2.59 billion compared to $2.33 billion in Q1 2025. The AM Services market also experienced growth, rising to $2.42 billion from $2.07 billion a year prior.

Scott Dunham, Executive Vice President at AM Research, attributed the ongoing growth to a combination of global supply chain reorganization and government-backed defense and national security projects. He noted that while growth is not uniform across all segments, the industry is experiencing a period of expansion. This trend is further supported by the increasing adoption of additive manufacturing in sectors like unmanned aerial systems (UAS), with the drone market for AM projected to reach nearly $900 million by 2034.

AMR's analysis covers various aspects of the market, including geography, machine class, print technology, vendors, and applications, drawing on nearly a decade of historical data and providing ten-year forecasts. The reports track numerous companies within the industry, encompassing both established players and emerging manufacturers in the metal and polymer AM spaces.