3D Printing Plastics Market by Type (Photopolymer, ABS, Polyamide, PLA, PETG), Form (Filament, Liquid, Powder), Application (Prototyping, Manufacturing, Tooling), End-use Industry (Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Consumer Goods), and Region-

The 3D printing plastics market is projected to grow from USD 2.36 billion in 2025 to USD 5.39 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 18.0% during the forecast period. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) was the third-largest segment of the global 3D printing plastics market in 2024, after PLA, owing to its versatile end-uses and cost-effective properties, along with its higher application in most of the 3D printing technologies. Renowned for its impact resistance, strength, and thermal stability, ABS is most commonly used for functional prototyping and manufacturing of end-use parts, especially those requiring robust, toughness components, automotive parts, electronics, enclosures, and mechanical assemblies. It is particularly suitable for the most widely used 3D printing process of Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and can serve both professional users and desktop printer users. ABS also permits post-production painting, sanding, drilling, and platting, and acetone vapor treatment can help in ensuring enhanced surface finish and functionality for polished part prototypes. The recent shift toward low-run custom manufacturing and 3D printing has made ABS even more relevant owing to its low cost and extremely smooth finish. They have also recently adapted ABS by adding fillers to modify the ABS, which results in better flow and reduced warping, and it also helps with layer adhesion, further extending the application of ABS for complex geometries and large prints. Furthermore, its recyclability and variety of color options (as well as grades) also contribute to its steady growth.

“In terms of value, the powder form segment accounted for the third-largest share of the overall 3D printing plastics market in 2024.”

The powder form segment had the third-highest share of form segment 3D printing plastics market due to its significance for industrial grade additive manufacturing and its relevance to advanced 3D printing technologies such as SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), MJF (Multi Jet Fusion), and EBM (Electron Beam Melting). These technologies are valued for creating highly detailed, mechanically strong, and dimensionally stable parts, especially for mission-critical applications in aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial tooling. In the 3D printing world, powder-based techniques are used to produce highly complex shapes with high surface quality and good isotropic mechanical properties when compared to alternative printing materials such as filaments or resin. Re-use of unsintered powder from each building cycle is also a material efficiency and cost-saving advantage that makes it a more sustainable solution for the production environment. Powder-based materials like polyamide (nylon), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and PEEK also possess high strength, durability, and thermal resistance, expanding their utility for both functional prototyping and end-use part production. Furthermore, the usage of digital manufacturing and on-demand production models has been expanding, especially mass customization and low-quantity production, which has increased the importance of powder-based systems. With the increasing requirements on speed, accuracy, and scalability from industrial users, powder-based 3D printing technologies have been continuously refined in the aspect of powder flowability, recycling, and fusion quality, placing this segment in a promising position.

“In terms of value, the manufacturing application accounted for the second-largest share of the 3D printing plastics market in 2024”

The manufacturing application segment was the second-largest of the overall 3D printing plastics market in 2024 because of its transformative nature in modern production. Manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, healthcare, and heavy machinery are switching from traditional subtractive methods to additive manufacturing with 3D printing plastics as it is improving production efficiency, enhancing flexibility, and reducing production costs. In manufacturing, 3D-printed plastics are heavily used for rapid prototyping, with designers and engineers able to prototype many different product ideas without expensive tooling. More than just prototyping, end-use parts and tooling components such as molds, jigs, fixtures, gages, and production aids are now frequently made with high-performance thermoplastics, which include ABS, nylon, PETG, and carbon-fiber-infused composites. These materials have excellent strength, abrasion resistance, and heat resistance, which are ideal for creating components that can be used in harsh industrial environments. New models of production, such as on-demand and decentralized production, are changing the market dynamics of manufacturing. Digital inventories and decentralized manufacturing centers help to decrease inventory costs while also improving delivery speed. This is important for the custom and low-volume components, which can be so costly by traditional manufacturing. In alignment with the evolution of Industry 4.0 in practice, 3D printing is becoming more embedded into smart manufacturing architecture that plans, predicts, and monitors quality by interjecting automation, AI, and IoT.

“In terms of value, the consumer goods industry accounted for the fourth-largest share of the 3D printing plastics market in 2024”

Owing to the buoyant nature of the consumer goods market and its increasing reliance on fast, flexible, low-cost manufacturing methods, the consumer goods industry had the fourth-highest share of the total 3D printing plastics market. 3D printing has the functionality that allows brands to go through product development much more efficiently, not only by simplifying iterations but also by eliminating expensive molds or tooling. This becomes important with low-volume products (especially prototypes or things driven by seasons/trends). A trend we see is that consumer wants have evolved toward personalized demand. 3D printing can enable mass customizations, custom-fit sunglasses, custom fashion pieces, or custom smartphone accessories. The rise of e-commerce platforms and direct-to-consumer business models has also given small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups the ability to use 3D printing as a means to market new products with little capital investment. The market for 3D plastic material is also expanding. We are seeing new iterations of 3D plastic materials, such as biodegradable PLA, high-impact resistant ABS, flexible TPU, and highly detailed solderable photopolymers for many colors and functional applications. Many consumer brands are also beginning to experiment more with sustainable practices and using 3D printing as a means to lessen their waste footprint, with an emphasis on designs that optimize minimal form and function. Moreover, innovations in multi-material and full-color 3D printing are enabling the production of consumer goods with intricate designs, vibrant finishes, and embedded functionalities, further expanding creative possibilities.

“During the forecast period, the 3D printing plastics market in North America is projected to be the largest”

North America is anticipated to rank as the largest-growing region in the 3D printing plastics market throughout the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to a robust commitment to clean energy and a well-established infrastructure for 3D printing plastics. New product developments, capacity expansions, and the establishment of plants by various leading players in this region majorly drive the growth of the 3D printing plastics market in North America. Demand for composites from the automotive, aerospace & defense, and healthcare industries is projected to increase due to product innovations and technological advancements in the applications of 3D printing plastics in these industries. The US houses leading 3D printing companies such as Stratasys and 3D Systems Inc. that innovate materials, hardware, and software. These companies are investing and developing new advanced plastic materials such as photopolymers, high-performance thermoplastics, and composite filaments that can support propositions for high-value applications. The global 3D printing materials market in the North American region is witnessing high demand for 3D printing plastics from its dominant end-use industries, such as aerospace & defense, automotive, healthcare, and consumer goods. 3D printing plastics have become popular among companies within these industries because the materials can speed up product development time, drive down costs, and provide economical low-volume manufacturing. Moreover, the advanced manufacturing abilities of the region, accompanied by ongoing materials science technological developments and favorable regulatory landscape, are among the key factors responsible for the rapid growth of the 3D printing plastics market.

This study has been validated through interviews with industry experts globally. The primary sources have been divided into the following three categories:

• By Company Type: Tier 1 - 60%, Tier 2 - 20%, and Tier 3 - 20%
• By Designation: C-level - 33%, Director-level - 33%, and Managers - 34%
• By Region: North America - 20%, Europe - 25%, Asia Pacific - 25%, Middle East & Africa - 20%, and South America - 10%

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the following companies:

3D Systems, Inc. (US), Arkema (France), Materialise (Belgium), Stratasys (US), Syensqo (Belgium), Shenzhen Esun Industrial Co., Ltd. (China), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), EOS GmbH (Germany), Formlabs (US), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), CRP TECHNOLOGY S.r.l. (Italy), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Huntsman International LLC (US), Ensinger (Germany), and Zortrax (Poland).

Research Coverage

This research report categorizes the 3D printing plastics market based on Type (Photopolymer, ABS, Polyamide, PLA, PETG), Form (Filament, Liquid, Powder), Application (Prototyping, Manufacturing, Tooling), End-use Industry (Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Consumer Goods), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America).

The scope of the report includes detailed information about the major factors influencing the growth of the 3D printing plastics market, such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. A thorough examination of the key industry players has been conducted to provide insights into their business overviews, solutions and services, key strategies, and recent developments in the 3D printing plastics market are all covered. This report includes a competitive analysis of the upcoming startups in the 3D printing plastics market ecosystem.

Reasons to Buy this Report

The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall 3D printing plastics market and the subsegments. This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report also helps stakeholders understand the market pulse and provides information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

• Analysis of key drivers (Government initiatives to surge adoption of 3D printing technologies, development of application-specific grades), restraints (Environmental concerns regarding disposal of plastic products), opportunities (Increasing demand for bio-based plastic grades), and challenges (technological advancements in 3D printing) influencing the growth of the 3D printing plastics market.
• Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights into upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and product launches in the 3D printing plastics market.
• Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets – the report analyzes the 3D printing plastics market across varied regions.
• Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the 3D printing plastics market.
• Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and offerings of leading players such as 3D Systems, Inc. (US), Arkema (France), Materialise (Belgium), Stratasys (US), Syensqo (Belgium), Shenzhen Esun Industrial Co., Ltd. (China), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), EOS GmbH (Germany), Formlabs (US), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), CRP TECHNOLOGY S.r.l. (Italy), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Huntsman International LLC (US), Ensinger (Germany), and Zortrax (Poland) in the 3D printing plastics market

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