Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The global 3D-printing market is growing. According to the Wohlers Report 2026, the global additive manufacturing market expanded by 10.9% in 2025, reaching US$24.2 billion. 3D-printing services account for the largest market segment.
The value of these services increased by 15.5%, while equipment sales rose by 3.6%. According to additive manufacturing specialists, this growth may indicate that the 3D-printing industry is entering a more mature stage of development, in which the technology is becoming a fully fledged industrial production tool.
The sector is also being driven by major companies in the aviation, aerospace, automotive and energy industries adopting 3D printing for their own operations.
This in-house production model allows companies to control the entire manufacturing process, from design to production and quality inspection, while reducing dependence on external suppliers.
This is particularly important for the automotive industry, where delays in component deliveries can disrupt production schedules.
In early September, several automakers reported plans to expand their use of 3D printing at their facilities. Toyota and Rivian began evaluating the capabilities of a new large-format system designed to manufacture production tooling and auxiliary components.
Hyundai, meanwhile, installed two industrial 3D printers at its research centre in South Korea. The equipment is intended for printing prototypes, parts for pre-production manufacturing and testing, as well as small batches of products.
BMW’s experience also illustrates the scale at which the technology can be used. According to the company, its facilities produce more than 100,000 3D-printed parts annually.
Since the opening of its Additive Manufacturing Campus, more than 1.6 million items have been produced there. From 2027, the company plans to use large-format metal 3D printing for series production of components as well.
The potential applications of additive manufacturing in Uzbekistan were discussed at a specialised seminar held in August 2026. The event brought together experts from Rosatom and the Uzatom Agency, along with around 30 representatives of companies in the automotive, chemical and mining industries.
Participants included representatives of UzAuto Motors, the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Company and Navoiyazot.
The seminar also examined the possibility of establishing an Additive Manufacturing Centre in Uzbekistan. The project envisages setting up working groups, auditing industrial enterprises, identifying promising products and services, and assessing the conditions required to implement the initiative.
Rosatom’s first overseas Additive Manufacturing Centre operates in Minsk. Before its establishment, specialists studied the needs and production requirements of more than 50 enterprises to assess demand for 3D-printing technologies. During its first year of operation, the centre completed more than 20 orders for the engineering and energy industries. Several trial batches of components were produced for MAZ and the Minsk Tractor Plant.
The Minsk centre is viewed as a model for similar projects in other countries. According to Rosatom’s press service, a turnkey project to establish an Additive Manufacturing Centre in Egypt is currently being developed.
The project in Vietnam envisages establishing a 3D-printing centre, producing metal powders, training specialists, and jointly developing product quality standards and certification procedures.
In industry, 3D printing is particularly useful for producing small batches, geometrically complex parts and customised production tooling, as well as in cases where product designs need to be modified quickly.
Additive technologies can also be used to repair expensive equipment components.
An audit planned under the project will help determine which of these applications are most relevant to Uzbekistan’s industrial enterprises.
The audit will identify demand for specific products and services and assess the conditions for establishing a centre.
