The global 3D printing polymer material market size surpassed US$900 Mn in 2021 and is projected to witness a revenue expansion of over 12% by the end of 2030. Polymers are extensively employed materials in 3D printing, alongside ceramics and metals. 3D printing polymer materials are anticipated to remain a preferred material choice in the long term due to a wide range of industrial applications demanding plastics or similar derived materials. The consumer electronics industry's exponential growth is expected to provide a continuous stream of business opportunities for the 3D printing polymer materials market. Additionally, various industrial products will also create strong tailwinds for the industry. The COVID-19 pandemic presented an influx of opportunities as demand for medical equipment, personal protective equipment, and isolation wards surged overnight. Besides healthcare and medical, the automotive and aerospace and defense sectors are also key industries driving demand.

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Key Report Findings

  1. Healthcare Industry Generates Remarkable Demand
  2. Surging Uptake by Aerospace and Defense Industry
  3. North America Leads with Government Initiatives Promoting Additive Manufacturing Technology
  4. Unwavering Growth of Auto Industry Solidifies Asia Pacific’s Position

Growth Drivers

A Widening Application Base

While many commercially usable polymers are available, no single polymer offers all the required properties for a particular application. Factors such as atmosphere, conditions (temperature, mechanical load, UV light, chemical exposure, radiation, and moisture), 3D printing method, availability, and processability must be considered. Moreover, no specific polymer on the market can be printed using a single additive manufacturing technique, which allows for fluid design, complex macro and microstructures, and simple modeling and optimization. As a result, additive manufacturing is embraced as a main production method to print prototypes and final components across industries including biomedical engineering, transport, and the military. The 3D printing polymer material market is thus projected to exhibit promising growth in the near future.

Increasing Demand from Aerospace and Defense Sectors

The material selection of 3D printing polymer materials is focused on the product and the desires of the customers. Polymers are used for producing PET bottles, dolls, tools, luggage, phones, computers, appliances, cushions, electronics, and transportation parts. Rising demand for 3D polymer printing, combined with the need for high-performance materials across various industries such as aerospace and military, is expected to drive the expansion of the 3D printing polymer material market. The aerospace and defense, healthcare, and automotive sectors are likely to contribute significantly to the growth of 3D polymer printing throughout the forecast period due to the active adoption of technology in various production processes connected to these verticals. To meet increased demand, the aviation industry is embracing three-dimensional technologies. A total of 950 global commercial aircraft deliveries were made in 2021. As a result, the increased number of aircraft will likely expand the 3D printing polymer material market in the coming years.

Rising Employment in Prototyping

A key driver for the 3D printing polymer material market is the increasing use of 3D printers for product design and prototypes, which is associated with lower manufacturing costs and more precision in the final product. 3D-printed car components are lighter, resulting in a lighter vehicle with improved performance and lower energy use. Aside from rapid prototyping, the technique is also used to create tooling and, in certain cases, finished goods. Global car sales grew to around 66.7 million units in 2021, up from approximately 63.8 million units in 2020. As the number of automobiles continues to rise, so will the demand for 3D polymer printing in the coming years.

Overview of Key Segments

Healthcare Industry Dominant

In the forecast period, the healthcare end-use category led the market, accounting for a major share of worldwide revenue. The cost-effectiveness, simplicity of customization, and rising prevalence of vascular and arthritic illnesses are driving the demand for 3D printing plastics in the medical business. The enhanced technology, favorable government assistance, and quick product development are projected to drive medical product demand. The rising demand for medical components such as face shields, mask clips, 3D printed masks, and filter coverings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to drive the expansion of the 3D printing polymer material market. The expansion in dentistry can be ascribed to the increased use of polymer materials for creating scaffold structures because of their superior biological and mechanical qualities, simplicity of processing, cheap production cost, and lightweight compared to metals and ceramics.

Growth Opportunities Across Regions

North America Leads its Way with Supportive Governments

North America led the global 3D printing polymer material market due to the region's significant adoption of additive manufacturing. Factors such as better material usage, reduced human errors, product customization, and reduced production time and cost are driving the North American market. North American countries such as the United States and Canada were among the first to use this technology in a range of manufacturing processes. Polymer 3D printing has tremendous promise in the regional market for a range of applications. The adoption of this technology in this region is being driven by the American government's initiatives for 3D printing development and R&D financing. President Biden announced a new plan in May 2022 to promote 3D printing technology, reducing reliance on the global supply chain, and boosting investment in local and medium-sized firms. As a result, increased initiatives by both private and public sector participants would enhance the 3D printing polymer material market.

Asia Pacific Forms a Favorable Growth Environment

Asia Pacific is predicted to increase at the quickest rate over the projection period. This quick acceptance of polymer 3D printing in Asia Pacific can be linked to the region's industrial industry advancements and upgrades. The Asia Pacific region is emerging as an automobile manufacturing powerhouse. Over 34 million passenger autos are expected to be sold in the Asia Pacific region by 2021, with over 21 million sold in China. A focus on consumer electronics manufacture, combined with expanding urbanization, is also contributing to the region's growing need for 3D printing. Businesses in Asia Pacific have demonstrated an increasing interest in creating a sustainable 3D printing environment, and governments in the region have enacted a variety of policies and legislative initiatives.

Global 3D Printing Polymer Material Market: Competitive Landscape

A few of the major players in the 3D printing polymer material market include 3D Systems (US), Royal DSM (Netherlands), Stratasys Ltd. (US), EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems (Germany), ExOne Company (US), Arkema S.A. (France), Materialise NV (Belgium), Sandvik AB (Sweden), General Electric (US), and Höganäs AB (Sweden).

Recent Notable Developments

  • In March 2022, the Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur) and 3D Systems, the leading provider of additive manufacturing solutions, agreed to extend the use of additive manufacturing (AM) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and neighboring regions, including the Middle East and North Africa.
  • In March 2022, Evonik, a specialty chemicals business, and Asiga, a 3D printer maker in Australia, announced a collaboration in photopolymer-based 3D printing. Both businesses hope to advance large-scale industrial 3D printing by expanding the capabilities of today's photo-curing technologies.