IDC’s new forecast predicts spending on 3D printing in the APeJ region to reach $3.6 billion (€2.903 billion) by 2021.
This forecast, featured in the IDC Worldwide Semiannual 3D Printing Spending Guide, reveals that APeJ spending on 3D printing should reach $3.6 billion (€2.903 billion) by 2021, with a “five-year compound growth rate (CAGR) of 22.4 percent.”
Services related to 3D spending – such as systems integration services, on-demand part services and consulting services – as well as material spending “will deliver nearly 45 percent of the total spending in the region throughout the forecast period.”
“China is the force behind APeJ growth. The Chinese Government is in support of the industry and multiple 3D printing action plan and fiscal supports are seen in place. As results, it boosted the 3D printing uses and spending in the country with continuous interest and rising maturity,” said Mun Chun Lim, Market Analyst, of IDC Asia/Pacific’s Imaging, Printing and Document Solutions Research.
The predominant industry in the APeJ region is discrete manufacturing, which will receive spending of $1.1 billion (€886.2 million) in 2018 and is also expected to receive the highest spending throughout the forecast period (reaching $1.7 billion/€1.369 billion in 2021).
“Manufacturers in APeJ have started to evaluate and implement additive manufacturing. Coupled with government push in advanced manufacturing, discrete manufacturing industry will continue to dominate majority of the spending in the region,” added Lim. “Education remains to be the focus in majority of the countries across the region while healthcare industry is gaining traction with rising demand of customized medical solutions and increasing spending power among patients in the region.”
According to the IDC forecast, the industries which will witness the quickest rise in 3D printing spending over the five-year forecast period are telecommunications (at 50.2 percent CAGR) and resource industries (at 44 percent CAGR).
“As we are gearing towards industry 4.0 era, 3D printing is poised to transform the manufacturing process and how things are made. The advent of 3D printing opens up endless possibilities and unleashing disruptive power in global supply chain. With on-going development, we will see penetration of 3D printing in other industries, with more innovative use cases developed,” said Lim.
