On August 22, 2026, according to CCTV Finance citing customs data, China's exports of industrial-grade metal 3D printing equipment grew 76% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, with Europe and Southeast Asia together accounting for 87% of total export value. For the first time in history, overseas orders surpassed domestic orders in scale. One Suzhou-based equipment maker reports that overseas orders now account for nearly 60% of its total backlog, with customers spanning the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. Domestic equipment delivery cycles are around one month—far shorter than the over-three-month lead times typical of foreign competitors. These machines use laser-based point-by-point sintering of metal powder to print components in one piece for aerospace, medical, automotive, and robotics applications (e.g., a robot leg can be produced in 1–2 days). Value for powder buyers: ① The surge in domestic equipment exports directly drives demand for upstream metal powder and consumables, and exporting equipment makers demand higher consistency in powder grades and batch-to-batch stability; ② Overseas orders surpassing domestic ones signals a new phase in the internationalization of China's metal AM supply chain, opening opportunities for powder supply and localized inventory in export markets (Europe/Southeast Asia); ③ The delivery advantage (~1 month) is becoming a key differentiator for domestic equipment, so powder suppliers must align with shorter delivery times and rapid qualification capabilities.