The niche category of silent wealth making! Last month on TikTok, it sold 2.62 million yuan, and surprisingly, it sold these

Not competing on looks but on creativity,3D printing filament unexpectedly goes viral

Once upon a time,3D printing still seemed like something out of a sci-fi movie, far from ordinary people's lives.

But in the past two years, things have changed. As technology matures and costs decrease,3D printing is no longer exclusive to factories or laboratories. More and more enthusiasts and home users are getting involved.

Amid this trend, a Chinese brand calledSUNLU, by selling3D printingPLA filament, became a hit in theTikTok US market.

According to data, in the past month, this product sold19,100 units, with sales exceeding $369,400 (about RMB 2,628,500). Since it was launched in June, total sales have exceeded $1,278,500 (about RMB 9,070,700).

Image source:TikTok Shop

Doesn't it sound a bit incredible? It's just a roll of material, so why is it so popular?

First, the product itself is solid.SUNLU's PLA filament offers a wide range of colors, high precision, and compatibility with most printers on the market, naturally resulting in broader sales channels.

But having a good product is not enough; the key is how to let people know about it and be willing to buy it.

Image source:TikTok Shop

At this time,TikTok became an important promotion channel.

You know,3D printing itself comes with "visual appeal": the high-speed printing process, the fusion of multi-colored materials, the creation from nothing to something—this kind of content is naturally attractive on short video platforms.

OnTikTok alone, the #3dprinting hashtag has already surpassed 26.28 billion views.

Among these videos, there are beginners, senior3D printing enthusiasts, and even elementary school students interested in 3D printing. They actively share their printed works, sparking lively discussions.

Image source:TikTok

SUNLU seized this opportunity and collaborated with a group of influencers in the tech DIY, electronic home, and IT equipment fields.Influencerscooperated.

Influencers usethesePLA filamentsto print trendy models and custom storage boxes,andwhile doing so, they answerprofessional questions like "Is the material heat-resistant?" "Is the printing accuracy sufficient?" Inadvertently, theybuildtrustfor the brand.

Image source:TikTok

In addition,SUNLUalsoleveragedTikTokto launch a"Batch Printing Challenge," encouragingmore realusers to share works made withits brand'sfilament,further expanding its influence.

So far,#Sunlu topic on TikTokhas alreadyreceived over70 millionviews.

Image source:TikTok

Market Blue Ocean: A 100-billion-level market is taking shape

SUNLU's breakout is not accidental; it is first due to the rapid growth of the global 3D printing market.

According toIMARC Group's report, the global 3D printing market reached $28.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $125.9 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 17.9% from 2025 to 2033.

What does this mean? Simply put, the industry will more than quadruple in size in the coming years, and a 100-billion-level consumer market is quietly taking shape.

Image source:IMARC

Among them, the US market is particularly critical. It accounts for more than 60% of the global market share for personal3D printers, filaments, and accessories. On Amazon US, from 3D printing pens to machines to various accessories and filaments, demand remains strong.

And among these best-selling products, Chinese brands are appearing more and more frequently.

Meanwhile, a research report from CSC Financial also stated that the consumer-level3D printing market has entered a "singularity moment," and the market is expected to experience rapid growth.

Image source:amazon

Chinese Players: From Product Export to Brand Export

BesidesSUNLU, which succeeded in the filament field, another Chinese brand, Creality, also performed brilliantly.

As a3D printer manufacturer, Creality joined TikTok Shop US for less than half a year and set a record of over $400,000 GMV in a single month (about RMB 2,843,400), with Q2 sales surging 467% quarter-on-quarter.

These Chinese brands are no longer simply selling products overseas, but are truly building brand influence in overseas markets.

Image source:TikTok

Creality has built a complete content matrix onTikTok, with both live streaming and short videos.

They have also summarized an efficient short video strategy:

Grab attention visually in the first 3-6 seconds, explain the advantages in the middle 20 seconds, and guide purchases in the last 3 seconds.

The effect is immediate, and conversions have improved significantly.

Among the 24 videos co-created with influencer@HiddenSteals, many pieces of content broke through the circle of influence, not only boosting sales of their core devices (hundreds of units sold per month), but also driving up their filament sales.

Image source:TikTok

Change Perspective, Explore New Tracks

Looking atSUNLU and Creality thriving overseas, we may notice an interesting phenomenon: many hobbies that seem niche in China may have already formed a huge and mature ecosystem overseas.

In other words, when we open our minds and look at the market from an overseas perspective, we may discover many unexpected business opportunities.

So, what will be the next niche category to explode onTikTok? Will it be the smart home gadgets you can think of, or novel DIY material kits?

What do you think? Welcome to share your promising tracks in the comments section!