The Global 3D Printing Materials Market Size Is Expected To Be Worth Around USD 12.7 Billion By 2030 From Valued At USD 2.59 Billion In 2022 And Is Expected To Grow At A Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) Of 19.32% During The Forecast Period 2023 To 2030.

3D Printing Materials Market Overview

The market is driven by the growing use of 3D printing in manufacturing, which makes mass customization possible, and by the growing demand for cars in emerging economies.

China needs a lot of these materials because 3D printing is being used more and more in many different industries. Under the Made in China 2025 plan, the country wants to be the world leader in high-end manufacturing, such as 3D printing. With a focused plan to promote this technology in the country, China's demand for these materials will continue to rise over the next few years.

A key trend is the use of 3D printing in education to help students think more abstractly and give their ideas a physical form. Students can use tablets and this technology to make simple 3D shapes and try out new ideas. Several progressive schools have already added 3D printing to their lessons to help students be more creative and test out their ideas in the real world. At the college level, 3D printing is making education better, especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Students are now using a mix of 3D models to understand different processes and models, which is made easier by this technology. With 2D drawings, this kind of learning is not possible. Due to the rapidly changing role of 3D printing and the revolution it is bringing to the education sector, with its hands-on approach, promotion of problem-solving skills, stimulation of creativity and innovation, and increase in engagement and interactivity, the education sector is expected to change quickly in the years to come.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Favourable Government Initiatives

Governments in different parts of the world are stepping up and coming up with plans and policies to increase the demand for 3D printing materials in their own regions. This is done to boost GDP and develop and create opportunities for the market due to the many uses of 3D printing technology in different end-use industries. Many players in the market for 3D printing materials are developing in both the private and public domains, which is supported by the government. India's government has started a national strategy for additive manufacturing to make India a design and development centre for the whole world. The strategic goal is to create 100 new start-ups, 500 additive manufacturing products, and 50 Indian additive manufacturing technologies for materials, machines, processes, and software. This would add nearly USD 3 billion to GDP in three years. Because of this, the 3D printing material market is growing because the government is taking more steps to boost the economy and improve education and technology.

Market Restraints

Certain Disadvantages Associated With 3D Printing Materials Properties

The industry of 3D printing is growing, and new technologies are being introduced. Also, new 3D printers are being made that can print in different materials, such as plastics, metals, composites, and many others. Materials used for 3D printing vary depending on what is being made and how it is made. Metals, plastics, and other materials that are bad for the environment can only be used in certain ways. This is because different kinds of materials have different properties. Each of these materials has its own strengths and weaknesses. Also, it's important to think about things like the type of material, how it feels, how much it costs, etc. It can be hard to figure out which material will work best for a certain project. Gold and silver are both very expensive and good at transferring heat. To print these materials, the temperature has to be very high, so a regular FDM 3D printer won't work. Titanium is the best material for 3D printing because it is both strong and light, but it is very expensive. 3D printing can also be done with stainless steel, but it takes much longer, costs more, and can only make small objects. So, the physical and chemical properties of the materials used in 3D printing can have an effect on the global market for 3D printing materials over the next few years.

Opportunity

Innovation And Growth In 3d Printing Technology And Materials

With the help of research and development (R&D), different companies have come up with new materials like copper, silicon, Ti64 (low-oxygen titanium powder), and many others. These materials help make materials last longer and work better. With the help of innovations in 3D printing, many auto industries are focusing on growth strategies to set themselves apart in the future. Volkswagen, for example, wants to use a new 3D printing method in all of its car production. Volkswagen is moving forward with using new 3D printers to make cars. So, new technologies and innovations from R&D will create good opportunities for 3D printing. This, in turn, will require more innovative and sustainable materials that aren't bad for the environment. This, in turn, will create opportunities for the 3D printing material market in the coming decades, since 3D printing can make any product design.

Market Challenges

Volatality in Raw Material Prices

Plastics like nylon, ABS, PET, and PLA, high-performance materials like Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), thermoplastic polymers, and many other plastics are used as material for 3D printing. These plastics are made from coal, crude oil, and natural gas, and they are used to make end-use parts, especially for industries with high standards, like the automotive and aerospace industries. So, the price of crude oil will definitely affect how much 3D printing supplies cost. Because they control more than 40% of the world's oil supply, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has a lot of power over the price of crude oil. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decides how much oil and gas is made and can change the price of oil and gas by cutting or raising production. The price of oil goes up and down because of both supply and demand. When there are more goods on the market than people want to buy, prices go down. Crude oil prices are also affected by political unrest, natural disasters, and the cost of making oil (refining). Most manufacturers, like Greenlam Industries Limited, have to import expensive raw materials, which makes plastics more expensive. Also, the businesses are still vulnerable to changes in currency because they don't have a good hedging system.

Segment Overview

By Type Analysis

Plastics Segment to Hold Dominant Share in the Global Market

Plastics, metals, ceramics, and other materials make up different parts of the market for 3D printing materials. The market for 3D printing materials was dominated by plastics. The plastics segment of the market will grow because more people want to use 3D printing technology and more industries, like the automotive, aerospace, and military, want high-performance materials. Plastics will also be in higher demand on the global market because they are easy to make prototypes of and can be used to make complicated designs at low cost, with less weight, and no material loss.

During the forecast period, it is expected that the metals segment will grow the most quickly. Metal is one of the best materials for making implants and prosthetics in the medical field. The demand for metals for 3D printing will go up because the process is faster and there is no waste. Also, the use of 3D-printed metal parts in cars, aeroplanes, and industrial machinery is driving up the market demand for metals.

By End-Users Analysis           

Aerospace & Defense to be the Major End-Users

Based on who buys 3D printing materials, the market is divided into automotive, aerospace and defence, industrial, medical, and other. The largest share of the market is held by aerospace and defence. Metal parts of an aeroplane, like jigs, wings, and engine parts, can be made with 3D printing. The ability of 3D printing to make parts that are cheap, light, and accurate in size has made it easy for the aerospace and defence industries to use it, which has helped the market grow.

During the forecast period, the automotive segment is expected to grow by a lot. Plastics and metals that are made with 3D printing are becoming more popular in the automotive industry because they are lightweight and accurate in size. The market is expected to be driven by the growing automotive industry and the growing need for these materials in car parts.

Regional Analysis

In 2022, North America had about 45% of the global market for 3D printing materials. This is because this technology is becoming more popular and is being used more and more in mass customization and making products. Different governments are trying to get people to use 3D printing. For example, in the U.S., the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) helps to speed up the use of additive manufacturing technologies in the manufacturing sector. The institute is a network of manufacturing companies, community colleges, universities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from the Ohio-Pennsylvania-West Virginia Tech Belt. It offers $40 million to support research in this field.

Aerospace original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in North America are also working hard to make their fleets lighter by reducing the number of parts. One of the main reasons for the growth of the North American market is also the growth of the manufacturing sector. 3D printers are used to make prototypes of products for customers by companies that make medical equipment, industrial plastics, industrial designs, and other products. For example, companies that make medical devices like prosthetics and artificial limbs use these kinds of systems to make customised medical devices.

In 2022, Europe had about 35%, which was the second-largest share. Companies like Airbus SE, EuroJet Turbo GmbH, ArianeGroup, and European Satellite Navigation Industries, which have been around for a long time and make planes, help the region's economy grow. In the aerospace industry, the use of 3D printing materials has grown because they have a simple supply chain, reduce risk, and are light.

Scope Analysis:

• In September 2021, Arkema has announced that it will be exhibiting at Rapid + TCT 2021 in Chicago from September 13, 2021 to September 15, 2021. The company will showcase 3D printing materials for UV curing applications, including N3D-TOUGH 784 (high strength material). , HT-511 (Tough High-Temperature Resin), DMT-303 (Performance Resin), IC-163 Casting Resin) and LF-053 (Acrylic SLA Resin) had thus expanded the customer range of its product portfolio.
• In June 2021, Covestro AG and Nexeo Plastics announced the development of a new PC/ABS filament (Addigy FPB 2684 3D) for 3D printing. The Company offers this product through the Nexeo Plastics distribution platform.
• In May 2021, Covestro AG introduced a new 3D printing material (Arnite AM2001 GF(G)rPET), a glass fiber-filled recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) for 3D pellet printing made from post-consumer PET waste.
• In September 2020, DSM announced an agreement to sell DSM Additive Manufacturing to Covestro AG for a total purchase price of EUR 1.61 billion as part of the sale of DSM Resins & Functional Materials and (other) affiliated companies. In addition, DSM Additive Manufacturing offers high-performance materials and in-depth 3D printing application knowledge to help manufacturers rethink the way they design products. From that date, DSM classified these operations as discontinued operations. Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, including antitrust clearance.

Market Segmentation

This portion of the study on the 3D Printing Materials Market gives detailed data on the segments at the country and regional level, thereby aiding the strategist in determining the target demographics for the relevant product or service and the impending opportunities.

By Type

• Plastics
• Metals
• Ceramics
• Other

By End-use

• Automotive
• Aerospace & Defense
• Industrial
• Medical
• Others

By Companies

• Stratasys Ltd.
• 3D Systems, Inc.
• Materialise NV
• Markforged, Inc.
• EOS GmbH
• Höganäs AB
• Arkema
• Royal DSM N.V.
• ExOne
• GE Additive
• Evonik Industries AG
• Höganäs AB
• BASF SE
• Covestro AG
• Solvay
• American Elements