The economic outlook for China’s Rapid prototyping services in the second half of 2025

Time：2025-11-10 Read：1

Based on the survey, the economic outlook for China's rapid prototyping industry in the second half of 2025 appears challenging, with weak orders and disruptions in upstream sectors like electroplating and oxidation processing.

The table below summarizes the key factors affecting the industry based on available information.

Aspect	Current Situation & Context
Overall Rapid Prototyping Market	While the additive manufacturing industry in China has seen significant growth over the long term, the broader market environment is competitive. Some precision machining companies have reported decreased orders and intense competition in recent years

.
Supply Chain Disruption (Electroplating)	The electroplating sector is undergoing significant consolidation due to stricter environmental regulations. A new national "Technical Specification for Pollution Prevention in the Electroplating Industry" is being enforced, with deadlines for compliance. This has led to widespread shutdowns of non-compliant factories

.
Specific Factory Closures	Data from some regions confirms a trend of closures. For instance, an official list from Xinyu City shows several electroplating and metal surface treatment plants in a "shut down" state

. A specific electroplating factory, Minggui Electroplating, was reported as "ceased operations" as of August 2025

.
Broader Manufacturing Pressure	Challenges are not limited to rapid prototyping. Related sectors like industrial profile deep-processing also report fewer orders and pressure from clients to reduce processing fees by 3-5%, further squeezing profit margins

💡 Industry Challenges and Context

The situation can be largely attributed to the following factors:

Stricter Environmental Policies: The widespread shutdown of electroplating and oxidation plants is directly linked to the enforcement of new national environmental standards

. Enterprises that fail to meet the standards by the specified deadlines face rectification or closure. This has led to significant industry-wide consolidation, disrupting supply chains for prototyping shops that rely on these finishing services.
Intensified Market Competition: The rapid prototyping and broader manufacturing market is becoming more competitive. Some businesses report increased competition leading to order declines and difficulties in expansion
. Furthermore, in related manufacturing sectors, there is pressure from clients to lower prices, compressing profit margins for processors

.
Economic and Investment Sentiment: Broader economic uncertainties may be contributing to the "wait-and-see" attitude among investors, potentially dampening demand for manufacturing services and new product development projects

🔍 Suggestions for Navigating the Market

Given the current climate, here are some strategies that might be helpful:

Strengthen Supply Chain Management: It is crucial to immediately check the environmental compliance status of your upstream electroplating and oxidation suppliers. Prioritize partners that are already established in professional industrial parks to ensure supply stability

.
Focus on High-Growth Sectors: While the overall market may be soft, certain high-end sectors continue to drive demand. The additive manufacturing (3D printing) industry, a key part of rapid prototyping, is still experiencing growth and is widely used in new energy vehicles, aerospace, consumer electronics, and healthcare

. Focusing marketing efforts on these vibrant industries could provide more reliable order streams.
Embrace Technological Upgrades: Investing in in-house capabilities, such as advanced 3D printing technologies or other finishing processes that are more environmentally friendly, could help reduce reliance on troubled external suppliers and capture more value

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