Corrugated and flexibles drive $22 billion digital print for packaging market

In 2025 the global market for printed packaging and labels will be worth $22.0 billion, according to Smithers, the global authority on the packaging industry.

Expert forecasting in the latest Smithers market report – The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2030 – shows that the market will increase in value at a 10.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach $36.9 billion in 2030. 

Digital has only a modest share of overall printed packaging output, 1.3% by volume and 4.1% share of value. This share will increase as a new generation of higher throughput digital presses, designed specifically for packaging work, are installed. 

Across 2025-2030 the most significant opportunity is in corrugated. Smithers analysis shows that in this segment, value will more than double across the next five years, reaching $8.2 billion in 2030. The principal opportunity will be for inkjet, where the latest wide-web systems now print at up to 400m per minute, in mono or colour. This makes them the fastest digital presses in existence, and by the end of the decade they will reach 500m per minute. 

Inkjet postprint is growing rapidly as well, with high-performance systems being developed and installed into box plants, and some into high-volume display applications. This is supported by the increased use of printed e-commerce delivery boxes; and a merging of the boundaries between display and secondary packaging with higher quality shelf-ready trays and boxes. 

The slowest expansion for digital will be in labels, with an 8.0% CAGR forecast for 2025-2030, as label printers are much further along the adoption curve. Globally there are around 8,100 narrow-web inkjet and toner presses being used for label and sleeve printing, giving these a much higher share of value (23.3%), relative to other segments. 

The proliferation of suppliers makes labels extremely competitive. One option is to upgrade the existing base of narrow-web machines to print flexible packaging substrates. Smithers forecasts digital print on flexibles will grow at a 11.6% CAGR to 2030. This presents an opportunity for toner OEMs, although inkjet machines are now coming to market that have overcome significant chem-stack issues.

A series of technical enhancements will further increase the quality and cost-effectiveness of digital packaging print across the Smithers forecast period. Digital labels and packaging technology continues to be a dynamic sector, with these rapidly developing print systems complemented with workflow and finishing technologies.

The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2030 tracks the global market for printed packaging and labels across the next five years. It quantifies current and future market volume and value by print process, end-use application, and region. It is available to purchase now, priced $6,750 (€6,350, £5,475).