The total global market for 3-D printing materials was $475.4 million in 2015 and is expected to rise to $576.6 million in 2016 and more than $1.5 billion in 2021, at a compound annual growth (CAGR) of 21.5%. The industry is very concentrated—just four companies, Arcam, ExOne, 3D Systems, and Stratasys, control an estimated 75% of the market.

As an indication of the growth of the 3-D printing materials market, BCC Research identified at least 90 U.S. patents pertaining directly to materials used in 3-D printing through a keyword search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database. Photopolymers accounted for 58% of the patents; thermoplastics and polymers accounted for 19 patents; and metals accounted for 16 patents.