Digital Printing Packaging Global Market Report 2024

The digital printing packaging market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $24.44 billion in 2023 to $26.77 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6%. The historical growth can be ascribed to trends in customization and personalization, the need for short-run printing, the emergence of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, the emphasis on brand differentiation and visual appeal, and the demand for quick time-to-market.

The digital printing packaging market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $38.77 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%. The forecasted growth can be attributed to the expansion of sustainable packaging practices, heightened adoption in the food and beverage industry, a growing demand for variable data printing, and the global shift towards a circular economy. Major trends in the forecast period encompass advancements in ink and printing technologies, the integration of smart packaging with track-and-trace features, the use of digital labels for product authentication, the application of 3D printing in packaging, and the increased adoption of digital printing in flexible packaging across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, personal care, cosmetics, among others.

The anticipated increase in demand for cosmetics and personal care products is poised to drive the growth of the digital printing packaging market. Cosmetics and personal care items, designed for enhancing appearance or cleanliness, can benefit from digital printing to effectively market brands and products. This method allows manufacturers to engage in more visually appealing design printing, reaching a broader audience and providing quicker results compared to traditional approaches. For instance, L'Oréal S.A., a France-based cosmetic company, reported in its 2021 annual report that the global cosmetic market saw a growth of 8.2%, up from 5.5% in 2019. Moreover, a report from Automat.AI, a Canada-based business service and software company, indicated a 13% increase in skincare product sales in the US in 2021, while makeup sales grew by 1%. Therefore, the rising demand for cosmetics and personal care products is a key driver for the digital printing packaging market.

The expansion of the food service industry is expected to contribute to the growth of the digital printing packaging market. The food service industry, encompassing establishments involved in preparing, serving, and delivering food and beverages, leverages digital printing packaging to enhance branding, offer personalized packaging solutions, and ensure cost-effective, flexible, and high-quality printing for various products. For instance, in August 2023, USA Today reported that the U.S. restaurant industry achieved $898 billion in sales in 2022, marking a $166.5 billion increase from 2021. Therefore, the growth of the food service industry serves as a catalyst for the digital printing packaging market.

Technological advancements have become a prominent trend in the digital printing packaging market, with major companies in the sector actively pursuing innovative technologies to solidify their market position. An example of this is Comexi Group, a Spain-based machinery solutions provider for the flexible packaging market, which introduced Digiflex in October 2022. Digiflex is a digital printing technology machine specifically designed for flexible packaging and label converters. It enables the printing of variable data on products for marking applications, offering fast printing speeds, high-quality outcomes, and efficient production. The machine boasts features such as a shorter setup time, a maximum speed of 220 m/min, reduced material waste, and a shorter lead time. Each printed code can be potentially unique, containing traceable material information and allowing for personalized items based on user needs.

Major companies in the digital printing and packaging market are engaging in strategic partnerships to enhance their capabilities in digital printing machines. Strategic partnerships involve companies leveraging each other's strengths and resources for mutual benefits. In April 2023, Sealed Air Corporation (SEE), a US-based packaging company, joined forces with Koenig & Bauer AG, a Germany-based manufacturing company, aiming to advance packaging design capabilities through state-of-the-art digital printing technology, equipment, and services. The collaboration aims to deliver digitally printed materials at an accelerated pace, enabling brand owners to connect with consumers through digitally enhanced packaging.

In June 2022, Agfa-Gevaert Group, a Germany-based information technology company, acquired Inca Digital Printers, a UK-based company specializing in digital printing for packaging. This strategic move by Agfa positions the company to achieve aggressive growth targets and reinforces its presence in the sign, display, and industrial printing markets.

Major companies operating in the digital printing packaging market report are Canon Inc., Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P., Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Amcor Limited, DuPont de Nemours Inc., DS Smith plc., Dover Corporation, Huhtamaki Oyj, CCL Industries Inc., Barry-Wehmiller Companies Inc., Flint Group, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Mondi plc., Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH, Bobst Group SA, Electronics For Imaging Inc., Konica Minolta Inc., Koenig & Bauer AG, Eastman Kodak Company, Coveris Holdings S.A., Komori Corporation, INX International Ink Co., Mimaki Engineering Co. Ltd., Esko-Graphics BVBA, Mutoh Holdings Co. Ltd., Durst Group, Edwards Label, Landa Corporation, EC Labels Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the digital printing packaging market in 2023, and is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the digital printing packaging market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the digital printing packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The primary categories of packaging in digital printing include corrugated, folding cartons, flexible packaging, labels, and others. Corrugated, known for its strength and lightweight nature, is particularly important for individuals handling numerous items. In corrugated packaging, digital printing is employed to print and create boxes of various sizes for packaging designer goods, offering opportunities for personalized packaging. Various types of printing inks, such as solvent-based, UV-based, aqueous, and others, are utilized in conjunction with different printing technologies such as thermal transfer printing, inkjet printing, electrophotography, electrostatic printing, and others. This diverse range of technologies caters to various formats such as full-color printing, variable data printing, large format printing, and others. These solutions find applications across different end-user industries, including food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, electronics, personal care and cosmetics, among others.

The digital printing packaging market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides digital printing packaging market statistics, including the digital printing packaging industry's global market size, regional shares, competitors with a digital printing packaging market share, detailed digital printing packaging market segments, digital printing packaging market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the digital printing packaging industry. This digital printing packaging market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The digital printing packaging market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as optimization of the supply chain, customized packaging, printing flexibility, replacement of labels, small and medium runs, and printing for displays. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The digital printing packaging market also includes sales of digital printers, ink-jet printers, screen printers, embossing machines, flexographic printing machines, offset printers, laser printers, wireless printers, 3D printers, thermographic printers, electrostatic printing machines, pad printers, and rotogravure printing machines. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.