The Future of Dye Sublimation to 2029

• In 2024, the global market for dye sublimation printing was worth €10.1 billion 
• The market is forecast to grow to €14.0 billion by 2029 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%.  

Dye sublimation is a process that is used to print images and information onto synthetic materials for a broad range of applications including apparel, household, sportswear and signage, as well as for some solid surface printing. This report covers developments and trends in the global dye sublimation market. It reviews the technology including hardware and consumables and discusses regional variations. 

Dye sublimation inkjet printing is used for printing images onto polyester and polyester coated surfaces. A common feature of all dye sublimation printing is the mechanism whereby a coloured dye changes from a solid to a vapour when heated, and in this vapour phase it penetrates the surface of the print medium, forming a bond and imparting a permanent colour. This is in contrast to textile and general printing where an ink is applied to the surface of the print medium, and the pigment in the ink colours the material.   

Key Questions 

• What will be the biggest growth opportunities in dye sublimation printing? 
• What technological innovations can the industry expect over the next five years? 
• How is the industry dealing with sustainability pressures from legislatures? 
• How is consumer demand for fast fashion impacting the market for dye sublimation? 

This report is essential to:

• Raw materials suppliers including inks and consumables  
• Equipment and machinery suppliers  
• Print consultants and analysts.

About the author

Jon Harper Smith has over 15 years’ experience in the printing industry through his time working with Fujifilm and has extensive experience of industrial and package printing businesses with particular focus on industrial inkjet and flexo processes. He has a proven ability to develop complex cross border businesses involving the provision of highly technical products that meet strict end user specifications. 

Executive summary
 Introduction and methodology 

• Key findings 
• Report objective 
• Definitions and abbreviations 

Key drivers and trends 

• Overview of dye sublimation market 
• Summary of key market drivers affecting usage 
• World economic outlook 
• Effects of Covid-19 
• Reshoring of print work in developed world economies 
• Political disorder in key textile printing markets 
• Effects of fast fashion and e-commerce retailing 
• Demand for pigment inks in textile work 
• Business evolution and consolidation 
• Availability of DTG machines 

Technology developments 

• Printers 
• Finishing machinery 
• Substrates 
• Consumables (inks) 

End-use markets and forecasts 

• Apparel 
  • Swimwear 
  • Sportswear 
  • Fashion 
  • Haute couture 
  • Ties and scarves 
  • Other apparel 
• Household 
  • Upholstery 
  • Carpets/floor coverings 
  • Window curtains 
  • Shower curtains 
  • Bed linen 
  • Decorative pillows 
  • Towels 
  • Wall coverings 
  • Other household 
• Technical textiles 
  • Automotive 
  • Sails 
  • Medical 
  • Protective clothing 
  • Other technical 
• Visual communications 
  • Display (indoor) 
    • Banners and signage 
    • Scenery, backdrops 
    • Other indoor display 
  • Display (outdoor) 
    • Banners and signage 
    • Scenery, backdrops 
    • Other outdoor display 

Dye sublimation print processes and inks 2024–29 

• Contact type 
  • Dye sub transfer 
  • Dye sub direct low energy 
  • Dye sub direct high energy 
• Ink type 
  • Aqueous inkjet 
  • Solvent-based inkjet 
  • Eco solvent-based inkjet 
  • Other inkjet 

Dye sublimation media markets 2024–29 

• Base media used in dye sublimation printing 
  • Polyester 100% 
  • Polyblend 
  • Polycotton 
  • Poly-coated solids 
  • Poly-coated rigids 
• The volumes of dye sublimation papers 

Geographic markets and forecasts 2024–29 

• Western Europe 
  • France 
  • Germany 
  • Italy 
  • Spain 
  • UK 
  • Other Western Europe 
• Eastern Europe 
  • Poland 
  • Russia 
  • Other Eastern Europe 
• North America 
  • US 
  • Canada 
• Latin America 
  • Brazil 
  • Mexico 
  • Other Latin America 
• Asia-Pacific 
  • China 
  • Japan 
  • South Korea 
  • Other Asia-Pacific 
• Africa and the Middle East 
  • Africa 
  • Middle East 

• End use segment categories and subcategories
• Summary key drivers and trends for digital dye sublimation printed output
• Global digital dye sub printing technology trends to 2029, summary
• Global digital dye sub printing revenues by segment, 2019-2029 (% share by value of output) 
• Summary global digital dye sub printing output by segment, 2019-2029 (volume; value)
• Global digital dye sub printing output by product segment, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• Digital dye sublimation printing output of garments by geographic market, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Digital dye sublimation printing output of household products by geographic market, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• Digital dye sublimation printing output of technical products by geographic market, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)   
• Digital dye sublimation printing output of visual communications by geographic market, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Sample of newer marketed digital dye sublimation machines since 2015
• Comparative analysis of a sample of pre–2016 and the sample of newer 2016 and post-2016 digital dye sublimation textiles machine models    
• Dye sublimation printhead manufacturers
• Digital dye sublimation print configuration by printed output area (million m²)    
• Dye sublimation inkjet global printed output, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Global digital dye sublimation printing output by print process, 2014-23 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Global digital dye sublimation printing output by material, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• Global digital dye sublimation papers consumption, 2014–23 (€'000; '000 m²)
• List of leading or upcoming countries for digital dye sublimation markets with short notes
• Digital dye sublimation printing output by geographic market, 2019-2029 (€'000s)
• Digital dye sublimation printing output by geographic market, 2019-2029 ('000 m²)
• Digital dye sublimation printing output, summary 2024 and 2029 (€'000s)
• Digital printing by dye sublimation, summary of projections 2029 (€'000s)
• Western European digital dye sublimation printing output by product segment, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• Western European digital dye sublimation printing output by product segment and by country, 2024-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Western European digital dye sublimation printing output by ink type, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Western European digital dye sublimation printing output by print process and by country, 2024 and 2029 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• Western European digital dye sublimation printing output by material, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Western European digital dye sublimation printing output by material and by country, 2024 and 2029 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• Eastern European digital dye sublimation printing output by product segment, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• Eastern European digital dye sublimation printing output by product segment and by country, 2024-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Eastern European digital dye sublimation printing output by ink type, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Eastern European digital dye sublimation printing output by print process and by country, 2024 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• Eastern European digital dye sublimation printing output by material, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Eastern European digital dye sublimation printing output by material and by country, 2024 and 2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• North American digital dye sublimation printing output by product segment, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• North American digital dye sublimation printing output by product segment and by country, 2024-23 (€'000; '000 m²)
• North American digital dye sublimation printing output by ink type, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• North American digital dye sublimation printing output by print process and by country, 2024 and 2029 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• North American digital dye sublimation printing output by material, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• North American digital dye sublimation printing output by material and by country, 2024 and 2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Asian digital dye sublimation printing output by product segment, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Asian digital dye sublimation printing output by product segment and by country, 2024-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Asian digital dye sublimation printing output by print process, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Asian digital dye sublimation printing output by print process and by country, 2024 and 2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Asian digital dye sublimation printing output by material, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²; includes Turkey)
• Asian digital dye sublimation printing output by material and by country, 2024 and 2029 (€'000; '000 m²)
• Digital dye sublimation printing output by product segment in the rest of the world, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)   Digital dye sublimation printing output by print process in the rest of the world, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)    
• Digital dye sublimation printing output by material in the rest of the world, 2019-2029 (€'000; '000 m²)