3D Printing Plastics Industry Overview

The global 3D printing plastics market size was estimated at USD 972.1 million in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.0% from 2023 to 2030.

Ease in customized product development, coupled with favorable government investments are likely to augment the market growth over the coming years. In addition, rising demand from end user industries such as automotive, medical, aerospace & defense are likely to drive the market demand. Recent developments in the additive manufacturing industry have created huge avenues for the automotive industry. It has facilitated the development of innovative, stronger, lighter and safer components and parts with lesser lead times as well as costs. The OEMs mainly utilized 3D printing for rapid prototyping. Thus, the rising product demand in the automotive industry is expected to fuel the market growth in coming years.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the 3D Printing Plastics Market

The demand for 3D printing plastics has considerably grown in creating prototypes over the past few years in the U.S. In addition, more number of manufacturers are expected to utilize additive manufacturing for high volume production. Lucrative market opportunities prevail for the market in aftermarket applications as manufacturers are increasingly utilizing the additive manufacturing technology to produce new components in the aftermarket industry.

Photopolymers are widely used in the 3D printing industry as they aid in easier customization and in producing products which are high in resolution. Also, the final product manufactured is eligible for easier post process which includes painting, gluing, cutting, and others. Commonly used photopolymer 3D printing technologies utilized in the industry include SLA printing, DLA printing, MJM, and Polyjet. These photopolymers are increasingly used across industries including jewelry, medicine & stomatology, and in creating prototypes for industrial uses.

Filament is increasingly used in the 3D printing plastics industry on account of its varied benefits which include war resistance, high density, strong layer adhesion, odorless, as well as chemical resistance against alkali and acidic compounds. These extruded plastic filaments are vital in creating 3D printed parts and models.

3D printing plastics have created several significant transformations in the automotive manufacturing industry including products which are safer, cleaner, lighter, and in newer designs. Several OEMs utilize additive manufacturing in creating automotive prototypes as well as high volume direct manufacturing. Companies such as BORLA USA are indulged in manufacturing high flow bodies comprised of plastic and aluminum. The company is primarily engaged in manufacturing stainless steel performance exhausts.

Browse through Grand View Research's Plastics, Polymers & Resins Industry Research Reports.

  • The global 3D printing market size was valued at USD 20.37 billion in 2023 and is expected to register a CAGR of 23.5% from 2024 to 2030.
  • The global nylon market size was estimated at USD 34.39 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2024 to 2030.

3D Printing Plastics Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global 3D printing plastics market report based on type, form, end-use, and region:

3D Printing Plastics Type Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • Photopolymers
  • ABS & ASA
  • Polyamide/Nylon
  • Polylactic acid
  • Others

3D Printing Plastics Form Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • Filament
  • Ink
  • Powder

3D Printing Plastics End-use Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • Automotive
  • Medical
    • Prosthetics & Implants
    • Surgical Instruments
    • Others
  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Consumer Goods

3D Printing Plastics Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • North America
    • US
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • France
    • UK
    • Italy
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • South Korea
  • Central & South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
  • Middle East & Africa
    • South Africa
    • Saudi Arabia

Key Companies profiled:

  • 3D Systems Corporation
  • Arkema Inc.
  • Envisiontec Inc.
  • Stratasys Ltd.
  • SABIC
  • Materialse nv
  • HP INC.
  • Eos GmbH Electro Optical Systems
  • PolyOne Corporation
  • Royal DSM N.V.

Key 3D Printing Plastics Company Insights

The market participants are engaged in expanding the range of 3D printing plastics as well as their applications. As the technologies are rapidly advancing, the manufacturers of 3D printed plastics are also focusing upon streamlining the pre and postproduction process.

In August 2019, Materialise collaborated with Engimplan, a Brazilian manufacturer of orthopedic & craniomaxillofacial (CMF) implants and medical equipment. This collaboration was intended to expand the product portfolio of Materialise in Brazil with the introduction of 3D printed customized implants.

Order a free sample PDF of the 3D Printing Plastics Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.