The Future of Flexographic Printing Markets to 2029

• The flexographic printing market is worth $230 billion at constant prices in 2024  
• The market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.0% to 2029  

The report focuses on the flexographic printing process and its future evolution across key global product markets from 2019 to 2029. It considers market developments, key drivers and trends; there is a particular interest in the role of digital print and the influence that its increase may have on the flexographic market.  

Flexography is a direct contact roll-fed printing process that is used to print high volumes of labels, packaging, and other consumer products, economically at high speeds on a wide variety of substrates. It is used in many specialist applications as diverse as wallpaper, wrapping paper, stationery, and tickets. This report contains a comprehensive data set covering all major end-use applications for national and regional markets, as well as current and future demand for flexographic equipment and consumables.  

Key Questions 

• How has development of new technologies and trends impacted the global flexographic printing market? 
• What are the key trends affecting demand for flexographic printing? 
• What are the main challenges facing this market? 
• How is the increase in digital print impacting flexo?  

This report is essential to:

• Raw materials suppliers including inks and consumables  
• Manufacturers of flexographic press, and pre-press equipment  
• Flexographic press operators, packaging converters and printers  

About the author

Jon Harper Smith has over 15 years’ experience in the printing industry 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 

• Report scope 
• Report objective 
• Research process 
• Methodology 
  • Data 
• List of definitions 
  • Anilox roller 
  • Bags and sacks 
  • Biaxially-orientated polypropylene (BOPP) 
  • Coldset web offset 
  • Computer-to-plate (CtP) 
  • CPG 
  • Converting 
  • Corrugated packaging 
  • Digital printing 
  • EB-curing (electron beam) 
  • Envelopes 
  • Flexible packaging 
  • Flexography 
  • Flexo ‘other end-use applications’ 
  • Foiling 
  • Folding cartons 
  • Gravure (rotogravure) 
  • HBA 
  • ITR (In The Round) Sleeves 
  • Labels 
  • Lamination 
  • Offset 
  • Oriented polystyrene (OPS) 
  • Photopolymer plate 
  • Roll-to-roll 
  • Roll-to-sheet 
  • Sanitary/kitchenware 
  • SKU 
  • Spot varnishing 
  • Solvent-based flexo ink 
  • UV curing 
  • Varnishing 
  • Water-based flexo ink 
  • Web widths 

Key drivers and trends 

• Introduction 
• World economic outlook 
• Demographic trends 
  • Growing consumer base 
• Packaging trends 
  • Changing run length demands in different applications 
  • Increasing popularity of flexible packaging 
  • Increasing popularity of shelf-ready packaging 
• Environmental trends 
• Generational demands 
• Corporate trends 
• Environmental sustainability 
  • Sustainable materials 
  • Sustainable manufacturing processes 
  • Reuse 
  • Compliance 
  • Supported by global regulatory efforts 
• Changing consumer habits 
  • Online purchasing 
• New packaging types 
  • Data and customer experience 
• Shorter runs 
• Supply chains and manufacturing on demand 
• Online transactions 

Cutting edge technology developments 

• Introduction 
• Automation of flexo press processes 
• Improvements to flexo computer-to-plate technology (CtP) 
• Improvements to anilox rollers 
• Availability of UV LEDs for UV curing sets, replacing UV lamps 
• Flexo finishing equipment improvements 
• Growth of screening, water wash plates and sleeves 
• Inks and consumables 

Flexo print – managing the digital challenge 

• Introduction 

Flexo equipment and consumables markets 

• Introduction 
• Flexographic printing equipment markets 
  • Narrow web 
  • Medium web 
  • Wide web 
  • Sheetfed (incl. folders/ gluers) 
  • Specials/other flexo units 
• Flexographic printing consumables 
  • Printing inks 
  • Printing plates 
  • ITR Printing sleeves 

Flexo application markets 

• Overview 
• Corrugated packaging 
• Flexible packaging 
• Bags & sacks 
• Labels 
• Cartons 
• Newspapers 
• Envelopes 
• Sanitary/kitchenware 
• Other products 

Flexo printing geographic markets 

• Introduction 
• Western Europe 
  • France 
  • Germany 
  • Italy 
  • Spain 
  • UK 
  • Other Western Europe 
• North America 
  • Canada 
  • US 
• Asia 
  • China 
  • India 
  • Japan 
  • Other Asia 
• Latin America 
  • Brazil 
  • Mexico 
  • Other Latin America 
• Eastern Europe 
  • Poland 
  • Russia 
  • Other Eastern Europe 
• Middle East 
  • Turkey 
  • Other Middle East 
• Africa 
• Australasia 

List of Figures

• Global flexographic printing output by print product, 2019–29 ($ million)
• Flexographic printing output by region, 2019–29 ($ million)
• Global flexographic printing equipment sales by region, 2019–29 ($ million)
• Global new flexographic printing equipment installations by press type, 2019–29 (units)
• Global flexographic printing ink sales by region, 2019–29 (tonnes)
• Global flexographic printing plate sales by region, 2019–29 (million m²)
• Global flexographic printing sleeve sales by region, 2019–29 (million m²)
• Annual rate of population change
• World population by region 2010 to 2100
• Urban population by relative income group
• Increasing size of middle class by region (millions)
• Amcor & Nestle development of recyclable retort pack
• Preference to buy from sustainable brands in the US
• US Annual household income by age group ($)
• US Click-and-collect Sales, 2020–25
• Moulded pulp packaging
• Diagram of the flexo process
• Bobst Ink on Demand system
• Heidelberg non-stop ink deck
• Asahi water wash flexo plates are certified by the Carbon Trust
• Esko CDI Crystal 5080 XPS LED imaging and exposure unit
• Xsys Thermoflexx Catena BE48 LED flexo plate imager
• Esko Crystal Screening process colour mid tones
• Hybrid Software Intelligent flexo screening
• Anilox sleeve
• Baldwin XP Quatro Series LED-UV unit 

List of Tables

• Key countries’ exchange rates to the US dollar, 2019–2029
• GDP growth trends, 2019–29 (real growth, %)
• Population trends, 2019–29 (millions) 
• New flexo equipment market by press type ($ million; machines) 
• New flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; machines) 
• Narrow-web flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; machines)
• Medium-web flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; machines)
• Wide-web flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; machines) 
• Sheetfed (incl. folders/gluers)
• Flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; machines) 
• Special/other flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; machines)
• Flexographic printing ink sales by region, 2019–29 (tonnes; $ million)
• Flexographic printing ink sales for package & label printing applications by region, 2019–29 (tonnes)
• Flexographic printing ink sales for graphic, etc. printing applications by region, 2019–29 (tonnes)
• Flexographic printing plate sales by geographic market, 2019–29 (‘000m²; $ million)
• Flexographic printing sleeve sales by geographic market, 2019–29 (‘000 m²; $ million)
• Flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Corrugated packaging: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Flexible packaging: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Bags & sacks: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Labels: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Cartons: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Newspapers: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Envelopes: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Sanitary/kitchenware: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Other products: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• Flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• Western Europe: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• Western Europe: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 ($ million)
• Western Europe: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 (units)
• Western Europe: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2019–29 (units)
• Western Europe: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2019–29 (tonnes; $ million)
• Western Europe: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2019–29 (‘000 m²; $ million) 
• France: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Germany: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Italy: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Spain: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• UK: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Other Western Europe: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• North America: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• North America: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 ($ million)
• North America: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 (units)
• North America: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2019–29 (units)
• North America: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2019–29 (tonnes; $ million)
• North America: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2019–29 (‘000 m²; $ million) 
• Canada: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• US: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Asia: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)  
• Asia: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 ($ million) 
• Asia: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 (units) 
• Asia: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2019–29 (units) 
• Asia: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2019–29 (tonnes; $ million) 
• Asia: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2019–29 (‘000 m²; $ million) 
• China: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• India: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Japan: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Other Asia: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Latin America: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Latin America: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 ($ million) 
• Latin America: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 (units) 
• Latin America: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2019–29 (units) 
• Latin America: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2019–29 (tonnes; $ million) 
• Latin America: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2019–29 (‘000 m²; $ million) 
• Brazil: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Mexico: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Other Latin America: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• Eastern Europe: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• Eastern Europe: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 ($ million)
• Eastern Europe: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 (units)
• Eastern Europe: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2019–29 (units)
• Eastern Europe: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2019–29 (tonnes; $ million)
• Eastern Europe: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2019–29 (‘000 m²; $ million) 
• Poland: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• Russia: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Other Eastern Europe: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Middle East: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Middle East: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 ($ million) 
• Middle East: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 (units)
• Middle East: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2019–29 (units) 
• Middle East: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2019–29 (tonnes; $ million) 
• Middle East: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2019–29 (‘000 m²; $ million) 
• Turkey: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints) 
• Other Middle East: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• Africa: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• Africa: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 ($ million)
• Africa: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 (units)
• Africa: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2019–29 (units)
• Africa: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2019–29 (tonnes; $ million)
• Africa: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2019–29 (‘000 m²; $ million)
• Australasia: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
• Australasia: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 ($ million)
• Australasia: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2019–29 (units)
• Australasia: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2019–29 (units)
• Australasia: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2019–29 (tonnes; $ million)
• Australasia: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2019–29 (‘000 m²; $ million)