Low Migration Inks Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F

The Global Low Migration Inks Market was valued at USD2.45 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 6.38% through 2028. Low migration inks are specialized inks that are specifically designed to minimize ink migration in specific packaging conditions, such as cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages. These inks are formulated to reduce the risk of ink contamination in the packaged products or contents when they come into contact with conventional inks. Factors such as external gases or heat exposure, water contamination, and moisture can cause ink migration, where the ink printed on the substrates transfers to the other side.

The high utilization of low migration inks in various applications, including food and beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, is driving the growth of the low migration inks market globally. There is a growing awareness of the issues surrounding ink migration in packaged food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products, which further contributes to the market growth. Manufacturers are increasingly adopting low migration inks due to regulations on printing inks aimed at protecting consumers from potential health risks associated with contamination from printed food materials and other substances. The demand for lightweight packaging in the food and beverages industry also drives the low migration inks market.

Moreover, the implementation of global food safety standards, the rapid growth of the packaged food and beverages sector, increasing demand for cosmetics and personal care products, rising awareness, changing lifestyles, and higher disposable income are all factors positively impacting the low migration inks market. Additionally, the growing utilization of low migration inks in the digital printing process and the enforcement of stringent regulations on personal hygiene and cosmetics products create profitable opportunities for market players in the forecast period.

Key Market Drivers

Growing Demand of Low Migration Inks in Food & Beverage Industry

The global low migration inks market is experiencing a significant boost, primarily driven by the increasing demand from the food and beverage industry. As health and safety regulations become more stringent, there is a growing need for inks that do not migrate or move from packaging materials into the product they contain. This has led to a surge in demand for low migration inks, which are specifically formulated to minimize the risk of unintentional transfer.

Low migration inks are designed with specific ingredients that ensure the ink does not seep through the packaging material into the food or beverage product. These inks are carefully formulated to maintain stability under various conditions such as heat, light, and moisture. The use of these inks is becoming increasingly important in maintaining the safety and quality of packaged food and beverages.

With consumers becoming more health-conscious and regulatory bodies imposing stricter guidelines on food safety, the food and beverage industry is under immense pressure to use safe and compliant packaging materials. This has significantly increased the demand for low migration inks. They are now extensively used for printing on food packaging, labels, and wrappers to prevent contamination and ensure product safety.

International regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), have established stringent guidelines regarding the use of inks for food packaging. Low migration inks meet these regulations, making them a preferred choice for companies looking to comply with these standards.

In conclusion, the growing demand for low migration inks in the food and beverage industry is a key driver of the global low migration inks market. With the rising health consciousness among consumers and stricter regulatory guidelines, this demand is expected to continue, further propelling the growth of the market. As the industry evolves and technology advances, low migration inks will continue to play a vital role in ensuring the safety and integrity of packaged food and beverages.

Growing Demand of Low Migration Inks in Pharmaceutical Industry

The global low migration inks market is experiencing significant growth, primarily driven by the increasing demand from the pharmaceutical industry. As regulations on pharmaceutical packaging become more stringent and concerns over product safety continue to rise, there is a growing need for inks that do not transfer from packaging materials into the products they contain, thus fueling the rising demand for low migration inks.

Low migration inks are specifically designed with ingredients that ensure the ink remains stable and does not migrate or seep through the packaging material into the pharmaceutical product. These inks are formulated to withstand various conditions, including light, heat, and moisture. Their use has become increasingly important in maintaining the safety and quality of packaged pharmaceuticals.

With patients becoming more health-conscious and regulatory bodies imposing stricter guidelines on pharmaceutical safety, the industry is under immense pressure to use safe and compliant packaging materials. This has significantly increased the demand for low migration inks, which are now extensively used for printing on pharmaceutical packaging, labels, and wrappers to prevent contamination and ensure product safety.

International regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA), have established stringent guidelines regarding the use of inks for pharmaceutical packaging. Low migration inks meet these regulations, making them the preferred choice for companies aiming to comply with these standards.

In conclusion, the growing demand for low migration inks in the pharmaceutical industry serves as a key driver for the global low migration inks market. With the rising health consciousness among patients and the implementation of stricter regulatory guidelines, this demand is expected to continue, further propelling the growth of the market. The use of low migration inks not only ensures product safety but also contributes to the overall integrity of the pharmaceutical packaging process.

Key Market Challenges

Rise in Cost Considerations

Low migration inks are specifically designed to minimize the risk of unintentional transfer of inks from packaging materials into the products they contain, ensuring the safety and quality of the packaged goods. These inks are formulated with carefully selected ingredients that offer excellent stability under various storage and transportation conditions. By incorporating advanced technology and implementing stringent manufacturing processes, low migration inks provide an effective solution to prevent ink migration, maintaining the integrity of the packaged products.

However, the production of low migration inks involves the use of advanced technologies and rigorous testing procedures to ensure their safety and effectiveness. The raw materials used in their formulation are often more expensive than those used in conventional inks, as they need to meet strict regulatory requirements and quality standards. These factors significantly contribute to the higher production costs of low migration inks, which are then passed on to the end consumers.

Furthermore, the successful implementation of low migration inks requires specialized equipment and trained personnel to handle and apply these inks correctly. The additional operational costs associated with the use of specialized equipment and trained staff can further contribute to the overall costs of using low migration inks.

Despite the growing demand for low migration inks driven by increasing consumer awareness and regulatory requirements, the higher costs associated with their use can pose a challenge to their widespread adoption, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The additional financial burden of using low migration inks may limit the ability of SMEs to switch to these safer and more reliable inks, hindering market growth and potentially affecting their competitiveness.

In conclusion, while low migration inks offer significant benefits in terms of product safety and quality, their higher production costs and the need for specialized equipment and training pose challenges for their widespread adoption, particularly among smaller businesses. Efforts to address these challenges and make low migration inks more accessible and affordable can further promote their use and enhance consumer protection in various industries.

Key Market Trends

Growing Advancements in Ink Formulations

In recent years, the development of advanced ink formulations has emerged as a major and influential trend in the low migration inks market. These breakthrough advancements aim not only to improve the performance and safety of low migration inks but also to ensure their compliance with the stringent regulations imposed by food and drug administration’s worldwide.

The latest formulations being developed are focused on enhancing the overall performance of low migration inks by bolstering their resistance to various environmental factors such as light, heat, and moisture. These factors play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and quality of the packaged products. Moreover, the ongoing advancements in ink formulations are also dedicated to improving printability, adhesion, and color strength, all of which are vital aspects contributing to packaging aesthetics.

Safety remains a paramount concern, particularly when it comes to product packaging for consumables like food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, significant strides are being made in formulating low migration inks by employing safer and more sustainable ingredients. For instance, new formulations are being developed with properties such as low-odor and low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) characteristics, making them even safer for use in packaging applications.

In conclusion, the growing advancements in ink formulations represent a key and transformative trend in the global low migration inks market. With a relentless focus on continuous innovation and development, these advancements are poised to further drive the growth of the market, offering not only safer but also more effective and efficient solutions for product packaging.

Segmental Insights

Process Insights

Based on the category of process, the flexography process segment emerged as the dominant player in the global market for Low Migration Inks in 2022. The flexography printing process is widely preferred over other printing methods for several reasons. Firstly, it is known for its superior features, including its economical nature, fast processing time, wide range of applicability, and non-toxicity. Unlike other printing techniques, flexography utilizes flexible plastics and rubber plates, allowing for high-quality imaging.

The use of flexography extends to various packaging items such as paper and plastic containers, metal foils, envelopes, tape, and more. This is primarily due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. As a result, the demand for flexography in bulk printing procedures continues to rise across industries.

With its numerous advantages over alternative printing processes, the applicability of flexography is steadily growing. As a result, the flexography segment is expected to experience rapid growth during the forecast period. The combination of its superior features, versatility, and robust demand positions flexography as a leading choice in the printing industry.

End User Insights

The others segment is projected to experience rapid growth during the forecast period. The demand for low migration inks for packaging applications is experiencing rapid growth due to their superior features, including negligible printing ink transfer, maintenance of appearance and flavor, and excellent adhesion properties. These advantages are driving the increased demand for low migration inks across various industries, such as food and beverage and pharmaceuticals.

The food and beverage sector, in particular, is witnessing significant growth, fueled by the rising demand for packaged food items like ready-to-eat meals, packaged dairy products, and packaged fruits and vegetables. This surge in demand can be attributed to shifting lifestyles and consumer preferences. For instance, according to the China Chain Store & Franchise Association, the food and beverage sector in China reached a staggering US$595 billion in revenue, reflecting a notable increase of 7.8% from 2018.

Moreover, low migration inks also play a crucial role in the pharmaceutical industry, where they find extensive applications in medication packaging, drug labeling, and other related areas. The Indian Economic Survey 2021 predicts that the domestic pharmaceutical market in India is set to reach an impressive US$65 billion by 2024, with the biotechnology segment projected to further expand to US$150 billion by 2025.

With the flourishing growth observed in major industries such as food and beverage and pharmaceuticals, the demand for packaging applications utilizing low migration inks is expected to continue its rapid rise throughout the forecast period.

Regional Insights

Europe emerged as the dominant player in the Global Low Migration Inks Market in 2022, holding the largest market share in terms of value. The rising demand for low migration inks in this region is influenced by various restrictions and policies on the usage of toxic printing inks for food packaging, labeling, and other applications. Governments and regulatory bodies, such as the European Union Printing Inks Association (EUPIA), have implemented stringent guidelines, like the GMP Regulation (EC) No. 2023/2006 and Framework Regulations (EC) No. 1934/2004, to ensure the safety and quality of printing inks used in food packaging. These regulations have further emphasized the favorability of low migration inks due to their features, such as negligible diffusion with the packaged products.

In addition, the food and beverage industry in Europe is experiencing rapid growth, driven by factors like the high demand for packaged food items, increasing frozen food production, and the rising popularity of ready-to-eat food. According to the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, the gross value added by the food industry in the UK witnessed a significant increase of 4.3% in 2019, following a 5.4% increase in 2018. Moreover, the food sector in Europe has seen a remarkable growth rate of 49.4% between the years 2009 and 2019.

As an example, the retail sale of packaged food in Italy alone accounted for a staggering US$80.6 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach US$90.6 billion by 2025, representing an increase of 11.1%, according to Food Export. With the booming growth in the food and beverage sector, the demand for low migration inks for various food packaging, labeling, and other applications is significantly rising.

Therefore, the strong and steadily increasing demand for low migration inks in the food and beverage industry in Europe is anticipated to fuel the growth of the market in the region during the forecast period.

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Low Migration Inks Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

Low Migration Inks Market, By Process:

• Flexography Process
• Gravure Process
• Offset Process
• Digital Process

Low Migration Inks Market, By End User:

• Food & Beverages
• Pharmaceutical
• Cosmetics & Personal Care
• Others

Low Migration Inks Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia-Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Kuwait
• Turkey
• Egypt

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Low Migration Inks Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Low Migration Inks Market report with the given market data, the publisher offers customizations according to a company's specific needs.


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