VDMA Autumn survey reports signs of positivity in AM industry
The VDMA’s Additive Manufacturing Working Group has published the results of its autumn 2026 survey of the Additive Manufacturing industry, indicating stable to positive expectations for the years to come.
While 29% of respondents reported declining sales in autumn 2025, that figure has now fallen to 15%. Meanwhile, 64% of companies reported a positive development, an increase on just 45% last year. In the view of the AM Working Group, the industry is in a more stable overall position than in the recent past.
“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.
Positivity building, but expectations tempered
According to the survey, companies are largely positive regarding the further development of the German Additive Manufacturing market. For the next twelve months, 40% of the companies expect market demand to increase, while 53% anticipate a stable development. 6% expect a decline.
The longer-term view is notably stronger. Over the next two years, 67% of companies surveyed expect to see growth in the domestic market, while 28% anticipate a stable development.
Compared to the spring report, when 76% of respondents anticipated growth in the domestic market over the next 24 months, expectations haven’t been altered too drastically, as the positive mood remains.
International markets remain integral
Most companies expect a stable or growing export business. For the next twelve months, 52% expect export sales to increase, while 39% anticipate the development to remain unchanged. Over the next two years, 63% 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% of the mentions. In addition, the USA continues to play a central role in the industry’s international business with 71%. At the same time, Asian markets are gaining in importance. China, in particular, is noted as a relevant export market more frequently than in previous surveys.
Companies are standing by investments
Despite a difficult economic environment, companies’ investment plans remain stable. For the next twelve months, 72% of respondents plan to continue investing in Additive Manufacturing. A further 22% expect investments to increase, while only 7% want to reduce their expenses. Amid ongoing economic uncertainties, companies are continuing to focus on the technological development of their Additive Manufacturing activities.
Respondents cite new applications (53%), technological developments (51%) and new markets (42%) as the key positive factors influencing their own business. Research and development, as well as the development of additional foreign markets, also remain relevant.
Focus on industrialisation and technology development
Among the central future topics for the industry, the focus is on technology development (61%), costs (57%), process stability and reproducibility (50%), series production (48%), new applications (46%) and market acceptance (43%).
In terms of application fields, mechanical engineering is less frequently 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 concludes.
