China's 3D printing equipment output surges by 100 pct

China's output of additive manufacturing equipment, commonly known as 3D printing, increased by over 100 percent year on year in November, with the industry making remarkable progress during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, according to official data released on Wednesday.

The latest data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology show that in November, the production of additive manufacturing equipment rose by 100.5 percent compared with the same month last year. The annual output value for the sector is projected to reach 70 billion yuan (about 9.96 billion U.S. dollars), reflecting an increase of over 30 percent for the full year of 2025.

From January to September this year, the output of such equipment already rose by 40.5 percent year on year, demonstrating sustained strong growth momentum throughout the year.

These figures underscore a fundamental shift in the industry's role within the broader manufacturing landscape.

"China's additive manufacturing industry has significantly enhanced its independent capabilities across the entire supply chain since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (in 2021). Its applications have continued to expand, evolving from an optional tool into an essential component for empowering manufacturing transformation," said Li Fangzheng, deputy secretary general of Additive Manufacturing Alliance of China.

This foundational progress has not only fueled domestic expansion but also propelled the industry onto the global stage with renewed strength.

Experts noted that China's additive manufacturing sector has made remarkable achievements in going overseas this year. In November alone, the export value of additive manufacturing equipment surged by 135.7 percent year on year. From January to November, the total export value of equipment and related products exceeded 10 billion yuan.

"Moving forward, we will continue to deepen the large-scale application of additive manufacturing in aerospace, new energy vehicles, biomedical fields and other fields, so as to leverage high-value application demands to drive technological iteration and enhance our overall competitiveness," Li said.

China's 3D printing equipment output surges by 100 pct

As Kenyan marathon runner Sabastian Sawe shattered the two-hour barrier at the 2026 London Marathon on Sunday, Barnaba Korir, Youth Development Director at Athletics Kenya, hailed his historic achievement as a landmark moment for the nation and resounding proof that no human is limited.

Taking up the ultimate marathon challenge that had long eluded even the legendary runner Eliud Kipchoge, who famously finished the world's first sub-two-hour marathon distance under specially designed, non-race conditions with support, Sawe became the first person to break the two-hour mark in a sanctioned marathon, clocking 1:59:30 at this year's London Marathon.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Korir, a former athlete now devoted to sports development in Kenya, called the day "a historic moment" for his country.

"This is really a historic moment for Athletics Kenya. Sebastian Sawe breaking the two-hour barrier for the first time on a scale that we were looking for with Kipchoge. We are very excited about this performance and Athletics Kenya and Kenya as a whole is proud of what he has done today in London," he said.

Beyond the race itself, Sawe's feat has once again demonstrated to the world that the human spirit yields to no limits, he added.

"This was a big surprise we did not expect. I watched the race and at first I thought maybe they were not going to make it, but eventually he did. As Eliud Kipchoge said before, that no human is limited. Yes, it has been done, and we believe that actually when you give all the support that is necessary, the work that they have done, yes, no human is limited, and Kenya has shown that it can be done," he said.

Sawe's sub-2 hour marathon record proves no human is limited: Kenyan official