What this market covers
Printers that build food items layer by layer from purees, doughs, chocolate and other pastes. Buyers are restaurants, bakeries, food makers and hospitals.
Typical segments
- Chocolate and confectionery printers
- Puree printers for dysphagia
- Dough and bakery printers
- Personalised nutrition
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +120% from 2023 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +11% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €9.2 million of products under CN code 84858090 (Machines for additive manufacturing) from outside the EU in 2025. | 9.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 84858090 were up 120% in 2025 compared with 2023 (€4.2 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +120 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 84858090 to countries outside the EU were worth €9.9 million in 2025. | 9.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 84858090 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €6.5 million in 2025. | 6.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 84858090 to the EU in 2025, with €4.0 million, or 43% of extra-EU imports. | 4.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 84858090 to the United States were €693 thousand in 2025. | 693 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 84858090 was €80.78 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 80.78 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Germany was the largest EU exporter of CN 84858090 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €7.8 million. | 7.8 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 4,900 enterprises in NACE class C2893 (Manufacture of machinery for food, beverage and tobacco processing) in 2023. | 4,900 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2893 had net turnover of €30.93 billion in 2023. | 30.93 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2893 employed 130,000 people across the EU in 2023. | 130,000 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 975 private establishments in NAICS 333241 (Food product machinery manufacturing) in 2025. | 975 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 333241 employed an average of 20,574 people in US private industry in 2025. | 20,574 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 333241 changed by +11% between 2020 (18,615 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +11 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 333241 was $87,266 in 2025. | 87,266 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84858090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 9244463
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84858090, flow import, 2023 VALUE_IN_EUROS 4209648; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 9244463
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84858090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 9853892
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84858090, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 6529587
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84858090, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3976474
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84858090, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 693261
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84858090, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 9244463, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 1144
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter DE, product 84858090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 7774233
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2893, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 4900
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2893, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 30931
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2893, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 130000
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 333241, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 333241, annual_avg_estabs 975
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 333241, annual_avg_emplvl 20574
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 18615; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 20574
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 333241, avg_annual_pay 87266
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Restaurants and bakeries
- Food manufacturers
- Hospitals and care homes
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU 3D food printing market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €9.2 million of goods under CN 84858090 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €9.9 million.
Where does the EU import 3D food printing from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included United States, Switzerland, Korea, Republic of.
What is the average import price of 3D food printing in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €80.78 per kilogram for CN 84858090 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most 3D food printing?
Germany led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Austria, Italy.
How many US companies are in the 3D food printing industry?
BLS counts 975 private establishments in NAICS 333241 (Food product machinery manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the 3D food printing industry?
Eurostat counts 4,900 enterprises in NACE class C2893 (Manufacture of machinery for food, beverage and tobacco processing).
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