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

American actress Zoe Saldana, who portrayed Neytiri in the Avatar film series, has shared her personal journey in performing the role for the latest film, which she describes as more emotional than the previous two installments.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" was released in the Chinese mainland and North America on December 19, after the much-anticipated sci-fi epic had its initial Chinese premiere at the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on December 8.

Saldana discussed the film in an interview in Hainan with China Central Television (CCTV).

"It's definitely more emotional than 'The Way of Water,' more emotional than Avatar 1. It's the Sully family, not just Jake and Neytiri. They have their children. And they just buried one child. So, they are finding themselves in a place where they are having to pick up the pieces. And they don't really know what they are going to do," she said.

The themes of loss resonated deeply with her, causing her to reflect on her own blessings, she said.

"My life, in 2017, I had all of my children. And my last child was still a baby. He was only four months old. So, getting to experience such joy and happiness in my personal life, and then coming to work to embody the skin of a woman who is absolutely devastated after losing her child was really hard, but I always felt that I had the support," said the actress.

She also praised the ambition and storytelling prowess of James Cameron, writer and director of the Avatar series.

"I do believe that James' stories, though fantastical, are still very relatable. I very much can relate a lot of themes that Jim is highlighting in his film," she said.

Avatar 3 star highlights emotional depth of blockbuster film