Report

The Digital Printing Market size is estimated at USD 35.56 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 48.40 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.36% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

Digital printing is a process of printing using technologies onto various media substrates. Digital printing is more accurate and cost-effective than conventional printing processes. The need for high-quality, cost-effective graphics and environmental sustainability is anticipated to drive awareness toward digital printing.

Key Highlights
- Significant improvements in print manufacturing include efficiency, with just-in-time production and a growing focus on supply chain management, which have reduced wastage in the print market. Technological developments aiding digital printing have guaranteed waste minimization, keeping the print quality at par.
- Advanced digital printing technology includes mild solvents and less harmful chemicals than conventional printing technologies, such as solid ink printing and offset printing. Hence, the demand for digital printing solutions is increasing in the printed electronics market, increasing the focus on green printing and cost-effective production.
- Commercial printing is witnessing transitional and structural changes as a significant application, as the immediate transition from conventional methods of print to digital is challenging. The printing cost is expected to take a toll since it is still a niche method requiring print of shorter/customized batches.
- Moreover, with the rise of retail businesses such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, and e-commerce, there is an increasing demand for personalized and customized printed products. Digital printing technology allows firms to produce small batches or even individualized items cost-effectively, catering to niche markets and customized customer choices.
- The latest advancements, such as AI, machine learning, IoT, and data analytics, have personalized offerings to a significant extent. The convergence in digital printing enables superiority in print personalization for large-volume orders. However, the cost factor remains a big hurdle. Additionally, high-priced investments for inks or equipment, maintenance, installation fees, and other consumables might limit the market's growth.


Key Market Trends

The Packaging Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth


- The packaging industry sees vast scope for implementing digital printing. Different packaging methods and technologies to cater to varying product demands for specific types of branding deploy different printing technologies. Some packaging industries include cartons, labels, metal packaging, rigid plastic packaging, corrugated packaging, and flexible packaging.
- Corrugated boxes and display making have been at the forefront of digital in the converting sectors. Digital printing can replace litho or flexo for either pre-print or post-print production, although each requires different configurations. The past decade witnessed the advancement in high-speed single-pass inkjet presses with robust sheet feeders for much higher throughputs than flatbeds could ever manage, which could handle thousands of sheets per hour.
- According to a study by Huhtamaki Oyj, from festive promotion with personalized packaging or premium dry fruit packing launched in multiple product-based designs, innovative digital printing allows a realm of new packaging opportunities in terms of data printing, short-runs, quick turn-around time, and energizing shelf-appeal of flexible packaging. Digital printing is shaping up an essential role in the future of product safety and promotions through flexible packaging.
- Cartons offer many benefits, such as superior printability and flexibility. As secondary packaging, it is widely needed for packaging products in different sectors, such as medicine, consumer goods, cosmetics, and household products. Digital printing systems and embellishment presses can apply specialty coatings to folding cartons, delivering new sources of profitability for commercial printers.
- According to Suzano SA, the consumption of cartonboard in 2021 was 53 million tons and is expected to reach 56 million tons in 2024. Moreover, the demand for cartonboards is predicted to increase further over the next decade, reaching 66 million tons by 2032. Digitally printed packaging products can be created with stunning visual effects, reproducing the gradient and details in original design files. Digital printing will generate the full CMYK spectrum of colors and works on a range of paper materials.


Asia-Pacific is Expected to be the Fastest Growing Market


- The digital printing industry is focused on data-based business models, digital platform solutions, and end-to-end digitized value-creation chains. Over the last decade, enterprises operating in printing-related industries in India have witnessed fierce competition owing to the rise of online media.
- The digital printing industry in emerging countries such as India is on a trajectory of significant growth, with an expanding global market size. Technological advancements, transforming consumer behavior, and developing the packaging industries are pushing the market.
- As small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have grown and customized marketing collateral has surged, a pressing demand arose for a solution that could efficiently and affordably deliver high-quality prints in small quantities. The rise of SMEs and the growing trend of tailored marketing materials have arisen as a solution to address the challenge of producing top-notch prints in small amounts while also ensuring speed and cost-effectiveness.
- Companies operating in the industry are focused on innovating new printing solutions in the market. For instance, in January 2024, Global Graphics Software, a developer of smart software components for print OEMs, extended its strategic business partnership with a Japanese manufacturer of digital inkjet printers. The partnership was initially started in 2016 when the company integrated Global Graphics Software's Harlequin Core SDK into its RIP software that pushes its printers.
- Further, according to Indian Printer and Publisher, commercial printing increasingly embraces digital printing. Also, the signage industry is considering new technologies such as digital 3D additive printing. Therefore, developing countries, such as India, are among the fastest-growing economies, which would leverage the market for digital printing in various end-user industries across the country.


Digital Printing Industry Overview

The digital printing market consists of several major players, and the market is fragmented. Some significant players, such as Smurfit Kappa Group PLC, Westrock Company, Avery Dennison Corporation, Multi-Color Corporation, Amcor PLC, and ARC Document Solutions LLC, currently dominate the market in terms of market share. The companies offer specialized products, increasing their market share and profitability by leveraging strategic collaborative initiatives. Companies operating in the market prefer mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their product capabilities and improve the market portfolio served by digital printing devices.


- March 2024: HP Inc. is driving digital printing with the latest HP digital printing presses and intelligent solutions designed to address production challenges in the commercial printing lab, ELS, and packaging industries. HP has been a digital transformation leader, and its digital printing technology has established the gold standard in commercial print, label, and packaging production.
- October 2023 - Xeikon, one of the global leaders in digital printing technology, announced its participation in PRINTING United 2023, the premier event for the printing industry, which took place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. As a critical player in the printing technology sector, Xeikon showcased its cutting-edge digital production solutions. The company launched various products, such as Xeikon SX30000, which redefines the possibilities of digital printing.


Additional Benefits:

- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
- 3 months of analyst support