Published June 2024
Printing inks are a customer- and applications-specific formulations business. A reputation for both quality products and technical service is essential for a printing ink company. There are two major end-use segments — packaging and commercial printing/publishing. Printing inks can also be categorized by process, such as lithography, gravure, flexography and digital; inkjet printing, a form of digital printing, is the newest and highest-growth process.
The five most common printing processes (in order of their worldwide market shares) are lithography (frequently referred to as offset), flexography, gravure (also called rotogravure), digital printing and others (screen printing and letterpress). Several other traditional printing processes account for a very small portion of printing revenues. Increasingly, nonimpact imaging processes — inkjet printing and electrostatic printing — are gaining a larger share of the print market. Since nonimpact, digital imaging is cost-effective for short runs and individualized printing and has essentially instant turnaround, its competitive space and wider span of substrates differentiate it from conventional printing processes.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of printing inks:
Offset/lithography, flexography and gravure are the three most-used printing processes in the world, accounting for about 83% of the world volume consumption in 2023.
The rise of electronic media has permanently altered the market for ink-on-paper printing, as well as fragmented the advertising market, reducing advertising spending in print media and causing the closure of magazine and newspaper businesses. However, digital imaging, especially through inkjet printing, is increasingly becoming a major part of the “traditional” printing business. Computerized platemaking and printing stations (typically inkjet) that customize each printed product are becoming common technologies. Customization and quick turnaround for short runs are major customer demands being placed on the printing industry, and ink manufacturers must produce inks that accommodate these needs. The transition toward high-value digital and energy-cured inks will continue.
By end-use sector, packaging will have a healthy growth and the highest share, whereas the publications market will continue to decline with the shift from printed media to internet and other electronic alternatives. Commercial printing will have a steady growth owing to the demand from trade shows, advertising and promotional products. Specialty markets like home interior products, apparel printing, non-flat printing for wearables and drinkware will enjoy the highest growth due to surging demand in the custom and consumer markets.
Overall, the challenges facing the industry include cost reduction, securing raw material supply, complying with regulations and sustainability issues. The printing ink market continues to face severe pricing pressures.
For more detailed information, see the table of contents, shown below.
S&P Global’s Specialty Chemicals Update Program – Printing Inks is the comprehensive and trusted guide for anyone seeking information on this industry. This latest report details global and regional information, including
Key benefits
S&P Global’s Specialty Chemicals Update Program – Printing Inks has been compiled using primary interviews with key suppliers and organizations, and leading representatives from the industry in combination with S&P Global’s unparalleled access to upstream and downstream market intelligence and expert insights into industry dynamics, trade, and economics.
This report can help you
- Identify the competitive environment and key players
- Assess key issues facing both suppliers and their end-use customers
- Understand industry integration strategies
- Keep abreast of industry structure changes, regulatory requirements, and other factors affecting profitability
- Identify new business opportunities and threats
- Follow important commercial developments
- Recognize trends and driving forces influencing specialty chemical markets
