Digital Inks Market Report 2025

The digital inks market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.46 billion in 2024 to $3.74 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to adoption of UV-curable inks, global economic trends, increased graphic arts usage, packaging industry demand, textile and apparel printing.

The digital inks market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.53 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to regulatory developments, global economic conditions, increasing digital printing demand, expanded application scope, customization and personalization. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in inkjet technology, expanded digital printing applications, diversification of ink formulations, sustainability and eco-friendly inks, quality and performance enhancement.

The rising demand in the ceramic tiles industry is anticipated to drive the growth of the digital ink market in the coming years. A ceramic is defined as an inorganic non-metallic solid composed of metal or non-metal compounds that are formed and subsequently hardened through high-temperature heating. Ceramic decorators utilize digital printing inks to print in small quantities, reduce inventory costs, and effectively respond to the evolving requirements of the ceramic inks sector. For example, in March 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Tile Council of North America reported that total U.S. ceramic tile consumption reached 285.4 million m² (3.07 billion sq. ft.) in 2022, representing a 1.3% decrease compared to the previous year. Conversely, domestic tile production continued to rise, totaling 87.3 million m², a 2.3% increase from 2021. Furthermore, U.S. manufacturers shipped 82.6 million m² (889.2 million sq. ft.) of ceramic tile domestically, marking a 1% increase from the previous year. Thus, the rising demand in the ceramic tiles sector is fueling the growth of the digital ink market.

The expanding e-commerce industry is projected to enhance the growth of the digital ink market in the future. E-commerce encompasses the buying and selling of goods and services via the Internet or other electronic networks. The growth of the e-commerce sector drives the demand for flexible and efficient printing solutions, making digital inks a vital component in meeting the specific printing requirements of online businesses. For instance, in February 2023, the U.S. Central Bureau reported that U.S. retail e-commerce sales increased by 6.5% in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to Q4 2021 and by 4.1% from Q3 2022 on an unadjusted basis. Moreover, total e-commerce sales for 2022 rose by 7.7% compared to 2021. Therefore, the burgeoning e-commerce industry is propelling the growth of the digital ink market.

Major players in the digital ink market are focusing on innovation, introducing products such as sublimation inks to cater to a larger customer base and drive sales revenue. Sun Chemical's ElvaJet Topaz SC is highlighted for its emphasis on user-friendliness and on-printer experience, broadening the ink operating window for accurate jetting performance. The product's compatibility across systems enhances reliability, reduces dependence on waveform, and ensures high-quality image printing across all drop sizes. This innovation reflects the industry's commitment to providing versatile and high-performance digital inks for various printing applications.

Leading companies in the digital ink market are creating innovative products like sublimation inks to attract larger customer bases, increase sales, and boost revenue. Sublimation ink is a specialized ink used in sublimation printing processes. For example, in March 2022, Sun Chemical, a U.S.-based chemical company, introduced ElvaJet Topaz SC. This innovative solution emphasizes user-friendliness and the on-printer experience by expanding the ink's operating window, ensuring precise jetting performance. This enhanced compatibility across systems significantly improves reliability while reducing reliance on the waveform. Additionally, the product delivers superior image quality with optimized jetting performance across all drop sizes, allowing for the printing of any design without sacrificing quality. Sun Chemical's careful attention to jetting behavior in the development of ElvaJet Topaz SC ensures excellent drop control across the entire range of Kyocera printheads, enhancing its exceptional user-friendliness in everyday operations.

Prominent companies in the digital ink market are also developing cutting-edge products like direct-to-film (DTF) inks to cater to broader customer bases, boost sales, and enhance revenue. Direct-to-film (DTF) ink is specifically formulated for use in direct-to-film printing processes. For instance, in June 2023, DuPont de Nemours Inc., a U.S.-based chemical company, launched the Artistri P1600 direct-to-film (DTF) pigment inks. The notable feature of Artistri P1600 inks is their compatibility with DTF printers that produce professionally printed items with consistently vibrant colors on various fabrics. This unique ink set allows for profiling with reduced ink volume, promoting both efficiency and productivity while ensuring cleaner equipment operation over extended periods. The versatility of Artistri P1600 is evident across a range of applications, from cotton and blends to polyester, giving printers access to a high-quality ink product for printing on diverse clothing materials.

In June 2022, Agfa-Gevaert Group, a Belgium-based manufacturer specializing in imaging systems and IT solutions for the printing industry and healthcare, successfully acquired Inca Digital Printers for an undisclosed amount. This strategic acquisition is a significant move for the Agfa-Gevaert Group as it strengthens its position in the sign & display and industrial printing businesses, aligning with Agfa's ambitious growth objectives. The acquisition encompasses a line of recently developed single-pass printers designed for various packaging applications, an existing portfolio of high-speed multi-pass printers, a robust service organization, and a custom in-line print engine developed in collaboration with leading corrugator manufacturer BHS Corrugated. Inca Digital Printers, the acquired company, is based in the UK and is recognized for its expertise in developing, manufacturing, and distributing inkjet printers for the print industry. This acquisition underscores Agfa-Gevaert Group's commitment to advancing its capabilities and expanding its footprint in key segments of the printing market.

Major companies operating in the digital inks market are Sun Chemical Corp., AM Printex, DuPont Inc., Flint Group, FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation, Independent Ink Inc., INKCID, INX International Ink, Itaca Group, JK Group Spa, Marabu GmbH & Co. KG, Navratan LLP, Nazdar Inks & Coatings Inc., NUtec Digital Ink (Pty) Ltd., Sensient Technologies Corporation, Siegwerk Druckfarben, Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Wikoff Color Corporation, Bordeaux Digital PrintInk Ltd., Brother Industries Ltd., Canon Inc., Colorjet India Ltd., Hongsam Digital Science & Technology Co. Ltd., HP Inc., Inktec Co. Ltd., Mimaki Engineering Co. Ltd., Ricoh Company Ltd., Roland DG Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation.

Digital ink technology enables the electronic addition of handwriting and drawings to digital papers, viewable on a monitor screen. This system utilizes a special digital pen or stylus to electronically capture handwritten or drawn content on digital paper. Digital inks often combine a water-based solvent with UV ink technology.

The main formulations of digital inks include solvent-based, water-based, UV-cured, and other formulations. Solvent-based digital ink formulations find applications in the packaging and automotive industries, as well as for decorating bottles, labels, membrane switches, and outdoor items. Solvent-based inks typically consist of pigment and resin (binder) components, forming the solid part of the ink. Substrates for these inks include plastics, textiles, ceramics and glass, and paper, processed through technologies such as electrography and ink-jet. Solvent-based digital inks are applied in various industries, including advertising and promotion, ceramic tile printing, clothing and household textiles, packaging, publication, glass printing, and other relevant applications.

The digital inks market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides digital inks market statistics, including digital inks industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a digital inks market share, detailed digital inks market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the digital inks industry. This digital inks 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.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the digital ink market share in 2024 and expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the digital inks market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the digital inks market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The digital inks market includes revenues earned by entities by providing API features, such as live updates, scribble to erase, and strikethrough to erase the writeup. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The digital inks market also includes sales of UV inks, LED inks, and printer parts which are used in providing printing services. 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.

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