The annual output of injection molding machines in China, the world's largest injection molding machine producer, hit roughly 100,000 sets in 2011 as per Research and Markets. However, impacted by the weakening demand for auto and household appliances downstream on the heels of slowdown in the growth of Chinese economy, China's output of injection molding machines slowed down in growth since H2-2011, and even witnessed negative growth in 2012. Nevertheless, China injection molding machine market showed stable momentum from Q2-2013, with the expected annual output growing by around 2.5% over the preceding year. Meanwhile, China also boasts a major trader of injection molding machines in the world. 2012 witnessed a notable turning point in terms of trading in China injection molding machine industry, with exports exceeding imports for the first time, and with the trade surplus amounting to US$111.85 mln. In 2013, the trade surplus further expanded, with the value in the first eight months hitting US$150.30 mln. This came as the following two aspects: firstly, more and more overseas manufacturers are establishing injection molding machine works in China, fueling the export of injection molding machines; secondly, China's sluggish demand in recent two years caused the decline in import. Rather, some of western economies are emerging from its doldrums, creating better conditions for investment and generating import of injection molding machines. Leading players in this market are six international tycoons including Arburg, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, Engel and NISSEI Plastic Industrial as well as 14 domestic enterprises including Haitian International Holdings Ltd, The Chen Hsong Group, L.K. Technology Holdings Ltd, Cosmos Machinery Enterprises Ltd, FU CHUN SHIN Machinery Manufacture, Borch Machinery and Guangdong Yizumi Precision Machinery. Arburg boasts the world's leading injection molding machine producer which has established branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen. In particular, the Shanghai outlet is its focus in China, providing mid to high-end products such as metal powder injection molding machines, liquid silicone injection molding machines, and thermal plastic injection molding machines in a modular approach. In July 2013, Arburg set up injection molding machine spot warehouse in Shanghai, in an aim to offer better service for clients across Asia. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has four injection molding machine production bases located at Schwaig and Wiehe of Germany, Japan and Ningbo of China. In Aug2013, Demag input €7 mln in China earmarked for expanding the capacities of injection molding machines in the Ningbo base, with the targeted capacities increasing from 650 sets to 1,000-3,000 sets. Haitian International Holdings Limited, the world's largest injection molding machine manufacturer, has set up distribution networks in China, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, and Vietnam. In 2012, its output of injection molding machines hit 22,000 sets, with the sales amounting to RMB6.336 billion. In 2013, it planned to build the 12th  and 13th branches in Ningbo specializing in the production of all-electric and large-sized injection molding machines, respectively. FU CHUN SHIN Machinery Manufacture, the largest injection molding machine manufacturer in Taiwan, owns three production bases in Ningbo, Dongguan and Taiwan, with the annual capacity hitting 3,160 sets. In 2012, the revenue of the company claimed NTD1.654 billion, of which, NTD1.012 billion from injection molding machine business. In Oct.2013, the company set a target to realize the revenue of NTD6 billion by 2018. In addition, it is poised to strength its commercial arm towards overseas market through building one to two injection molding machine production bases in Brazil and Indonesia in coming five years as well as three to five self-support footholds in the Philippines and India.

As per Research and Markets, In 2013, the export volume of injection molding machines was 22,946 sets with the export amount of US$ 932 mln; in 2012, the export volume was 24,830 sets, so the export volume in 2013 declined, but the export value in 2013 increased 3.78%, which fully shows that the average price of export products of China's injection molding machines is gradually growing. With the increasing demand for plastics, plastic machinery industry has huge market potential. From the global perspective, the top three plastic machinery types are injection molding machine, extruder/extruder production line and blowing molding machine, which account for more than 80% in the plastic machinery total output value. Among them, injection molding machine accounts more than 50% of the total output value of these three main types of plastic machines. In 2013, the output of China's injection molding machines was about 82,000 sets, rising by 4.21% compared with 2012. On the whole, the growth of China's injection molding machine industry gradually slowed during the year of 2007 to 2013, but the output was still rising. During 2007 to 2013, the average growth rate of output of China's injection molding machines was 4.77%. As this report estimates, the market supply volume of China's injection molding machines will reach 86,175 sets by 2014, 89,612 sets by 2015 and about 101,095 sets by 2018. 

The market for plastics processing equipment around the world is picking up, with injection molding equipment expected to account for almost two-fifths of new sales in 2017, Plastics News reported. Freedonia Group predicts the market will rise 6.9% each year to US$37.1 bln in 2017. An increase in the production of plastic goods will contribute to market growth as the global business outlook improves, allowing companies to invest more. The packaging industry will have the most demand for plastics processing machinery, followed by consumer products and construction. Much of this growth will come from countries that are continuing to experience rapid industrialization, including China and India. China is by far the largest national equipment market, accounting for 29% of all 2012 sales, and it will continue to lead global demand in 2017. India will be the fastest-growing country, however, expanding 12% pa. The market for micro injection molding is expected to grow faster than overall plastic processing machinery demand with a compound annual growth rate of about 14.5% from 2013 to 2019, as per Plastics Today. The study by Research and Markets showed the medical industry is projected to generate the most demand for micro molded products with other industries, including automotive and tech, also anticipated to contribute to the growth of the micro injection molding market.