Global Coding and Marking Ink Market Research Report 2025-2030

The global coding and marking ink market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.12% from 2024 to 2030.

IMPACT OF TARIFF

The impact of tariff on coding & marking will be moderate. The tariff war affects the cost of pigments, dyes, and solvents, key raw materials for inks. While local sourcing mitigates some risks, manufacturers reliant on imports face higher input costs, supply chain disruptions, and reduced pricing flexibility. This exerts moderate pressure on production costs and competitiveness across the regional market.

CODING & MARKING INK MARKET TRENDS

Growing Innovations in Coding and Marking Inks

Several vendors catering to the coding & marking ink market have consistently focused on upcoming and new forms of inks or similar solutions for customers. Vendors such as Domino Printing Sciences, Paul Leibinger Inkjet Systems, and Weber Marking Systems, among others, have remained successful in guiding this headwind to their advantage. However, the influx of local vendors has had them own share of success in the same.

Growing Trend of Developing Eco-friendly Inks

The need to have inks that can be removed has risen considerably in the last few years. For instance, several manufacturers across end-user industries are currently seeking inks that are long-lasting, durable, and removable at the end-of-life point if the product is to be recycled. This seems challenging even though the same trend can be expected to become mainstream in the coming years.

Rising Trend of Paper-based Packaging

The global packaging industry is undergoing a strong shift toward paper and fiber-based solutions, driven by sustainability commitments, regulatory pressure, and consumer preference. Governments, especially in the EU and North America, are pushing packaging regulations that prioritize recyclability and the reduction of plastic. There is rising trend of paper-based packaging due to increasing focus on sustainability.

CODING & MARKING INK MARKET DRIVERS

Growing Demand for Product Traceability

There is growing demand for product traceability due to growing regulatory pressure, financial risk, rising consumer safety concerns and recall of faulty products across the world. This development is driving the demand for coding and marking solutions, including inks, which play a pivotal role in ensuring products are properly labeled, serialized, and tracked across the supply chain.

Increasing Application in Food & Beverage and Healthcare Industries

The expansion of end-user industries such as food & beverage and healthcare has led to a rise in demand for coding and marking solutions such as bar codes, dates, manufacturing details, and other relevant product information. Also, the need to have such information intact throughout the entire supply chain process remains imminent and necessary. Growing application of coding and marking solutions in food & beverage and healthcare industries will drive demand for high quality coding and marking inks.

Stringent Labeling Regulations

Governments across the globe have introduced stringent labeling regulations for product quality, safety, and traceability. Several industries are required to label their products with specific information, such as lot numbers, expiration dates, ingredients, and barcodes, due to regulations. The government organizations have made product labeling mandatory for maintaining product quality and consumer safety. As regulatory requirements continue to increase globally, the demand for coding and marking solutions, including inks, is expected to grow.

INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Growing Popularity of Laser Marking Systems

Laser coding is gaining popularity owing to its ability to reduce production downtime while boosting productivity. Since laser marking neither transmits any ink onto any surface nor requires a physical tool impacting that surface, it is a key choice among end-user industry manufacturers.

Ink Migration Challenge

One of the key challenges in the coding & marking ink market is ink migration onto packaged materials. Ink migration occurs when chemicals from printing inks, labels, or coatings leach into the food. Vendors can look up to different alternative solutions for coding and marking to avoid ink migration issues that can negatively impact demand for inks in the market.

CODING & MARKING INK MARKET SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT TYPE

The global coding and marking inks market by product type is segmented into solvent-based inks, water-based inks, oil-based inks, and other inks. The solvent-based inks segment accounted for the largest market share of over 50%. Solvent-based inks use solvents as their key carrier fluids. These inks have solvents that are primarily volatile organic compounds. This feature of the ink tends to make them dry quite faster than their counterparts. Solvent-based inks have large applicability in areas such as automotive, production date, serial number, logo, and barcodes, among others, via solvent-based ink, the surfaces become smoother.

Solvent-based inks are of two types - strong solvent and eco-solvent, and are widely used for coding and marking in different industries. MapleJet offers inks like Aspro, Chronplast S, Chronplast Elite, and Dynaplast, which work well on plastic, metal, glass, and food packaging. These inks are useful for industries such as food, beverages, and cosmetics.

Segmentation by Product Type

• Solvent-based Inks
• Water-based Inks
• Oil-based Inks
• Other Inks

INSIGHTS BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE

Based on the technology type, in 2024, the CIJ technology segment accounted for the largest global coding and marking inks market share. CIJ systems support the broadest variety of coding & marking inks, including water-based, oil-based, and solvent-based inks, making them ideal for industrial environments. While CIJ can accommodate UV inks, such usage is less prevalent, and hot melt compatibility is rare. These printers are the standard for food, beverage, and general manufacturing sectors, with solvent-based inks being the most widely adopted.

The CIJ coding and marking technique is highly favored due to its user-friendly installation process. One of its primary advantages is high-speed printing combined with its "quick-dry" capability. This technology is extremely versatile, allowing for printing on nearly any surface. Its installation is relatively straightforward, making it a standard solution for many coding applications.

Segmentation by Technology

• Continuous Inkjet (CIJ)
• Thermal Inkjet (TIJ)
• Piezo Inkjet (PIJ)
• Valve Inkjet (VIJ)

INSIGHTS BY COLORANT

By colorant, the dyes segment dominates the global coding & marking ink market share, driven by low-cost, high-speed CIJ printing on porous substrates. A dye colorant is transparent and does not provide strong lightfastness or heat-resistant properties. The inks with these colorants are suitable for products that are expected to remain indoors and away from extreme weather conditions. Also, these colorants do not require stirring or shaking, making them an adequate match to be used with inkjet coders.

Dye-based inks are also preferred due to their better color gamut in comparison to their pigment counterparts, while having used an equal number of colors. Several vendors, including Linx Printing Technologies, provide dye-based inks that deliver a strong contrast for a wide range of substrates.

Segmentation by Colorant

• Dyes
• Pigments

INSIGHTS BY END-USER

The global coding and marking inks market by end-user is categorized into food & beverage (F&Bs), healthcare, electrical equipment & electronics (EE&E), chemicals & construction (C&C), automotive & aerospace (A&A), and other end-users. The food & beverages industry has emerged as one of the largest end-user segments driving demand for coding and marking inks worldwide. As the sector expands across geographies, fueled by innovation, rising consumer spending, and changing dietary preferences, the role of coding and marking solutions has become critical for compliance, traceability, and brand integrity.

One of the key growth drivers is the surge in pre-packaged food products and the multiplication of stock-keeping units (SKUs). For instance, in the US grocery channel alone, SKUs have risen by 50% in the last seven years, reflecting the growing product diversity. This expansion has amplified the need for robust coding solutions to ensure accurate labeling, serialization, and identification across a wide range of product categories.

The rise of Gen Z and millennial demographics has led to a growing demand for organic and healthy food options. This trend toward healthier eating habits among these demographic groups has prompted F&B companies to innovate and introduce ready-to-eat food products. Notably, a significant portion of the American population, around 65%, prioritizes socially conscious and healthy food choices.

Segmentation by End-users

• Food & Beverage (F&Bs)
• Healthcare
• Electrical Equipment & Electronics (EE&E)
• Chemicals & Construction (C&C)
• Automotive & Aerospace (A&A)
• Other End-users

CODING & MARKING INK MARKET GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

APAC dominates the global coding & marking market and accounts for the largest share of around 35% in 2024. The industry is experiencing significant growth, led by stricter regulatory frameworks, rapid industrialization, and a rising need for product traceability. Several end-user industries in the region, such as pharmaceuticals, F&B, automotive, electronics, and consumer goods are adopting innovative coding technologies to ensure compliance and improve the supply chain.

Countries like China and India experience rapid urban population growth, driving the consumption of processed foods, healthcare products, and consumer goods. This urbanization trend, combined with expanding e-commerce penetration and organized retail growth, creates sustained demand for coding and marking systems.

North America represents a significant market for coding and marking technologies, with applications spanning several industries, including pharmaceuticals, food & beverage (F&B), and packaging. The growth in this region is driven by several factors, including stringent regulatory requirements, advances in automation, and an increasing need for product traceability.

The US stands out as the largest market for coding and marking within North America. The e-commerce industry has experienced remarkable growth recently, contributing to the anticipated expansion of offline retail. Categories such as personal care and pet food are predicted to generate high volumes in e-commerce. The rise in Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) within the e-commerce sector is expected to significantly influence the demand for coding and marking systems in the coming years.

Segmentation by Geography

• APAC
• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Indonesia
• Thailand
• North America
• The U.S.
• Canada
• Europe
• Germany
• The U.K.
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Poland
• Sweden
• Latin America
• Brazil
• Mexico
• Argentina
• Middle East & Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• South Africa

CODING & MARKING INK MARKET VENDOR LANDSCAPE

The global coding and marking inks market is highly fragmented, with numerous local and international players. Key companies in this sector include Videojet, Markem-Imaje, Domino Printing Sciences, Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems, and ITW (Diagraph), along with many domestic manufacturers that cater to local demands and regulations. These firms have established themselves as leaders in the market, boasting strong brand recognition, a wide range of products, and extensive distribution networks.

The market is characterized by a diverse array of global and regional vendors. As international companies expand their presence, regional vendors may find it increasingly difficult to compete. Furthermore, with the rise of product expansions, mergers and acquisitions are expected to intensify competition within the industry. Companies also compete based on features such as safety, durability, tool performance, lifespan, price, and customization options.

Recent Developments in the Coding And Marking Inks Market

• Markem-Imaje, part of Dover, announced the launch of MB2253, a new black MEK ink specifically formulated for the beverage market in June 2025. This innovative product meets stringent industry regulations and ensures safety and compliance for both producers and consumers.
• In January 2025, Hitachi Industrial Equipment launched a food quality visualization solution with time-temperature sensing ink, which changes color based on elapsed time and temperature, and enables cost-effective quality monitoring in the supply chain.

Key Company Profiles

• Domino Printing Sciences plc
• Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems (HIES)
• ITW Diagraph
• Kao Advanced Printing Solutions (APS)
• Markem-Imaje
• Videojet Technologies

Other Prominent Company Profiles

• American Coding & Marking Ink
• Anser Coding Inc.
• Cyklop
• Linx Printing Technologies
• Leibinger Group
• Wuhan Willita Marking & Packing Technology
• Zanasi
• Macsa ID
• Control Print
• UNITED BARCODE SYSTEMS (UBS)
• RN Mark Inc.
• Matthews Marking Systems
• Squid Ink
• Kartho Coding & Marking
• Maple Jet
• KIMAC
• GEM Gravure
• REA Elektronik
• Sun Chemical
• HAS Systems
• Ubach Inkjet
• Weber Marking System
• Wuhan Viojet Technology Co.
• Sojet Marking Technology

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

1. Which region dominates the global coding and marking inks market?
2. How big is the global coding and marking inks market?
3. What is the growth rate of the global coding and marking inks market?
4. What are the key drivers of the global coding and marking inks market?
5. Who are the major players in the global coding and marking inks market?