Global Commercial Printing Market Size Analysis Report - Market Share, Forecast Trends and Outlook (2024-2032)

Commercial Printing Market Insights

• In 2023, the commercial printing industry generated USD 414 billion in revenue. 
• Packaging printing contributed USD 186 billion, while office printing brought in USD 221 billion. 
• In the United States, 90% of businesses have adopted sustainability measures, such as using recycled packaging materials. 
• The top 50 companies in the market hold around 30% of the share, pushing the growth of the commercial printing market.
• Over 60% of businesses dealing with commercial printers have invested in new technologies. 
• Additionally, approximately 675 million printed books were sold in the U.S. in 2020.

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Commercial Printing Market Trends

Retail, financial services, and packaging drive growth; digitization challenges, eco-friendly methods help.

The market is majorly driven by the retail, financial services, publishing, and food and beverage industries. The demand for packaging, wide-format printing, digital printing, and other promotional materials by the retail and food and beverage industries is a significant driver that aids in commercial printing market development.

With the rise in digitisation, customers are likely to follow more electronic versions of printed materials, such as e-annual reports, e-vouchers and e-catalogues, or to use more online platforms, such as email, the internet, or websites, rather than printing materials for consumers, which in turn affects the commercial printing market expansion. However, to counter the effect of the digitisation of commercial printing, service providers are including value-added services, such as data management, consulting, and e-publishing, to retain their clients and to increase the commercial printing market growth.

Meanwhile, major segments, such as labels, packaging materials, and books for educational institutes, still have sustained demand for commercial printing. As per commercial printing market analysis, a variety of value-added services, such as packaging, distribution, consultancy, graphic design, and data processing services, help manufacturers to provide their customers with creative services. Moreover, market players compete by supplying their customers with these value-added services at reasonable rates and help consumers integrate various print-related operations into one unified service provider. These strategies can increase the commercial printing market value in future.

Moreover, the implementation of environmentally friendly methods, such as soy ink instead of conventional petroleum-based ink, has reduced the environmental footprint of the printing industry and allowed both consumers and suppliers to reduce carbon emissions. This trend is expected to aid the overall market over the forecast period. 

Industry News 

January 2023

Elliott Management Corp became one of the largest shareholders of Dai Nippon Printing by acquiring a 5% stake valued at USD 300 million. This investment underscores Elliott’s confidence in Dai Nippon’s growth potential and strategic importance in the commercial printing sector.

April 2022

Toppan Printing Co. Ltd., a major player in the printing industry, acquired Majend Makcs Co., Ltd., a flexible packaging manufacturer based in Thailand. This acquisition enabled Toppan to enhance its production capabilities for flexible packaging, expanding its reach to Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America. The move strengthens Toppan’s position in the global packaging market.

Historical Market Analysis

Over the last five years, changes of various natures have occurred in the commercial printing market. Inkjet and laser digital printing technologies keep on improving; moreover, there is room for further improvement in quality and speed. The growth in the segments of inkjet and laser digital printing has been raised by the demand due to customised packaging and labelling related to e-commerce alone. A sizable shift is seen toward green printing by making use of biodegradable inks and recyclable materials.

These have been offset by challenges that include the decline in traditional print media driven by digital alternatives and high initial costs of new technologies. Besides, there have also been supply chain disruptions owing to rising raw material costs, impeding commercial printing demand.

Included among the drivers are an increase in demand for personalised and just-in-time printing products, innovation in technology that further enhances printing capabilities, and a greater emphasis on sustainability. These changes in the landscape bring with them their particular opportunities and challenges, and when responded to appropriately, position companies well for the future.

Opportunities in the Commercial Printing Market

E-commerce growth boosts demand for innovative, customizable, and sustainable packaging solutions.

The recent growth in e-commerce opens large opportunities for commercial printing. Packaging and labelling solutions will be required. As much as web store purchases keep on expanding, businesses are in search of creative packaging, which makes them different and contributes to an interesting customer experience. For instance, companies like Amazon and Shopify consider customised and branded packaging as means of better representation of their products and development of brand identity. It involves innovative designs, environmentally friendly materials, and a personalised touch, which also extends the commercial printing market opportunities. Additionally, subscription boxes continue to fuel demand for special-package solutions alongside direct-to-consumer brands. Such is the trend where printing companies can cash in by offering flexible, high-quality, sustainable packaging options. It is also an opportunity that supports the growth of value-added commercial printing services and further encourages innovative thinking for design and packaging materials.

Market Dynamics

Sustainable printing practices, like eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient technologies, drive market growth.

A significant commercial printing market trend is that of sustainable printing. It refers to the use of materials and technologies that are friendlier to the environment. For example, the HP Indigo digital presses utilise water-based inks and substrates which are intended for recycling. Other companies, such as EcoPrint, offer sustainable printing services using biodegradable and recyclable papers. Besides, most printers have been investing in different kinds of energy-saving machinery and decreasing waste by improving the processes. 

All these trends go in line with global sustainability goals and appeal to environmentally sensitive consumers and businesses, bolstering the commercial printing market dynamics and trends. With an ever-growing increase in pressure on companies for going green, demand for sustainable printing solutions has continued to drive innovation and market growth of eco-friendly print technologies.

Growth Drivers

Growing demand for personalised, on-demand printing drives market expansion and innovation.

Personalization and on-demand printing are some of the major drivers in the print market. Advancement in digital printing technologies such as inkjet and laser printers have been enabling companies to print custom-made products at faster speeds and economical costs. Companies such as Vistaprint offer customised marketing materials ranging from business cards to brochures, through digital printing per individual customer specifications. This allows businesses to communicate with consumers in a personal way, hence successfully driving a significant demand for high-quality, short-run printed products. In this capability of rapid production of one-off, customised items, a wide range of applications is supported-from promotional material to packaging-thereby lengthening the possibilities in the marketplace and promoting commercial printing market growth.

Market Restraints

High initial and maintenance costs of advanced printers limit small business adoption.

One important restraint in the print market includes the high initial investments for state-of-the-art technology used, specifically by inkjet and offset lithographic printers. To give an example, high-resolution inkjet printers used within the commercial packaging industry could also be prohibitively expensive for small to mid-sized business enterprises. This would, in turn, prevent further deployments in those industries due to such high investments, affecting the commercial printing market revenues.

Moreover, periodic maintenance and operating costs of these technologically advanced machines are also very high. These barriers to entry may well prevent small businesses from gaining access to the newest printing innovations and competing effectively in the marketplace. This represents a challenge towards the low-cost and scalable solution that will enable participation in the broader market.

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Commercial Printing Industry Segmentation

“Commercial Printing market Report and Forecast 2024-2032” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

On the basis of print technology types, the market can be divided into:

• Offset Lithographic
• Flexographic
• Inkjet
• Screen
• Gravure
• Others

Based on application, the market can be segmented into:

• Packaging
• Advertising
• Publishing
• Others

Based on region, the market can be segregated into:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

By Print Technology Type Analysis

Inkjet printing excels in custom, cost-effective, high-quality outputs, while offset and flexo serve high-volume needs.

Due to their resistance and strength, which are particularly suitable for heavy-duty applications, Inkjet is gaining attraction due to its versatility and economical nature. With advancement in the inkjet technology, high-resolution and full-colour printing was made possible at competitive speeds with low costs. Companies such as HP and Epson have developed inkjet printers for customised packaging and labels that use a brand like Coca-Cola and Unilever for various vibrant and personalised labels efficiently. This flexibility supports targeted marketing strategies and short-run production.

As per commercial printing market analysis, offsets, however, remain the popular choice for high-volume jobs because they can efficiently and economically generate identical prints with high quality. Flexographic printing is preferred in packaging and labels because it offers a short drying time, and it allows various substrates. Gravure would be perfect for high-quality, long-run print jobs of magazines and packaging. Screen printing would be an indispensable tool in specialty items and textiles because of its durability and its capability of printing on a wide variety of materials.

Market Analysis By Application

Packaging applications contribute to market expansion due to the rising demand for labelling from various industries.

Packaging printing is the process of creating labels, wrappers, boxes, graphics, and text on different types of packaging materials like paper, cardboard, plastic, and glass. Due to the growing demand for packaging printing applications, especially in the food and beverage and personal care and cosmetics industries, as well as the growing need for sustainable packaging, the packaging industry within the commercial printing market is experiencing significant growth.

The packaging segment’s growth is also being fuelled by the e-commerce industry's booming demand for packaging and labelling, along with the need for creative packaging solutions to set products apart from one another. Additionally, groups like the Green Printing Alliance and the Environmental Protection Agency are pushing for waste reduction and recycling in printing processes, which is pushing market participants to use sustainable packaging techniques to meet consumer demand.

As per commercial printing industry analysis, the advertising segment is also anticipated to grow at a promising CAGR in the commercial printing market due to the growing need for advertising in all the industries. Print ads cover news, offer in-depth analysis, and distribute tangible promotions and news in large quantities. Digital and gravure print processes are typically employed for short-run advertising materials like brochures, flyers, posters, newspapers, and newsletters, which is also increasing the market size.

Furthermore, the increasing number of people subscribing to newspapers and newsletters and the expanding education sector are two of the factors contributing to the growth of the publishing segment, which includes books, newspapers, and magazines.  Additionally, the growing popularity of books among avid readers has led to high book sales, which is fuelling the expansion of the publishing printing segment, thereby impacting the commercial printing market outlook.

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Commercial Printing market Regional Insights

North America Commercial Printing Market Opportunities

In North America, the demand for commercial printing is further driven by technological innovation apart from customised packaging-related demand. Due to increasing demand for customised orders and variable data applications, companies in the United States are engaging themselves more and more with digital printing. For example, high-quality, short-run jobs have been commonly carried out using HP's Indigo presses. New developments involve the emergence of hybrid printing technologies that merge digital and offset printing for better flexibility and efficiency, accelerating the commercial printing industry in North America. More attention is also being given to the integration of automation and data analytics to enable smooth production and operational efficiency.

Europe Commercial Printing market Dynamics

The commercial printing market in Europe is straying towards sustainable and eco-responsible practices. Companies in countries such as Germany and the Netherlands are contemplating investments in eco-friendly printing-related solutions, which include water-based inks and recyclable material. For instance, Heidelberg is leading in the area of eco-friendly presses. Recent announcements include the launch of a new generation of high-speed digital presses with minimal waste and increased productivity. In addition to this, other value-added products like three-dimensional printing and specialty packaging are also finding a market in Europe, as there is a lot of interest in green and innovative products.

Asia Pacific Commercial Printing Market Trends

The region is witnessing rapid expansion in commercial printing, driven by rising e-commerce activities and associated packaging needs, garnering a 2.6% CAGR through 2032. Particularly, China moves step by step with the adoption of flexographic printing technologies for packaging applications. Companies like Qingdao Haixiang Printing use modern flexo presses. Further development involves the integration of AI for quality control and process optimization in print manufacturing, augmenting the commercial printing market share in Asia Pacific. The region also sees growth in the adoption of digital printing to cater for diverse and rapidly growing market demands on high-volume, short-run jobs.

Latin America Commercial Printing market Insights

With increasing urbanisation and economic development, Latin America experiences growth in commercial printing. Further commercial printing industry growth is taking place in countries such as Brazil and Mexico. Brazilian companies are purchasing high-efficiency offset presses to increase capacity for ever-growing demand in packaging and advertising materials. An example is the expansion of Bobst's presence with advanced packaging solutions. Some of the innovations within the region include the adoption of digital printing technologies that provide superior cost efficiency and flexibility for the execution of small- to medium-sized print runs. Besides, a trend towards sustainable practices and materials in print production is evident.

Middle East and Africa Commercial Printing Market Drivers

Infrastructure projects, advertising, and promotional activities mainly promote growth in commercial printing demand in the Middle East and Africa. For instance, large-format digital printing for attractive displays and promotional events has been growing in the UAE. The large-format print solutions by firms such as Canon Middle East have been leading. Other recent developments involve the use of 3D printing technology for various commercial applications involving prototyping to promotional items. There is a further and growing interest in digital and hybrid printing technologies that can deliver more versatility and efficiency with the diversity of the market.

Market Overview of Innovative Commercial Printing Startups

Startups in the commercial printing market are focusing on new technologies and sustainable development. Advanced digital and hybrid printing solutions, including high personalization and effectiveness, are under development. Further, eco-friendly materials and processes, such as biodegradable inks and recyclable substrates, are also being engaged by startups. In addition, leveraging automation and AI for improved production efficiency and quality control is another key focus, targeting rapidly evolving market demands and environmental concerns, thereby augmenting the demand of the Commercial Printing market.

Printful is a startup established in 2013 with on-demand printing and fulfilment services. It specialises in custom products through the help of digital printing technology to offer personalised apparel, accessories, and home goods. The integration with e-commerce platforms further makes Printful agile and scalable to different printing needs.

Trek Technology was incorporated in 2015 to provide a sustainable commercial printing solution. They offer printing services using water-based inks, which can be used on recyclable materials. The target of minimal environmental harm is reached by providing the best quality prints, therefore developing sustainable growth amongst businesses in need of green and innovative print production methods.

Competitive Landscape

Commercial printing market players are strengthening their margins by investing in the latest printing technologies, including digital and hybrid presses, which improve efficiency and lower their costs. They are also expanding their services to encompass customised and sustainable solutions to meet the growing demand in the marketplace. Strategic alliances and acquisitions are other ways commercial printing companies extend their presence in the market, while leveraging automation and data analytics to optimise production processes and lower overall operational costs.

Key Market Players

Key industry leaders in this market are:

Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Tennessee, United States, Acme Printing offers a diverse range of services including digital and offset graphic design, finishing, labels, wide format signs, banners, promotional items, digital media, rack cards, brochures, business cards, and flyers. Their comprehensive product portfolio caters to various printing needs.

Established in 1876 and based in Tokyo, Japan, Dai Nippon Printing provides an extensive range of products including textbooks, magazines, wrapping paper, and packaging options. As one of the oldest and largest printing companies in Japan, it offers a broad spectrum of print solutions across multiple industries.

Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Toppan Printing Co. Ltd specialises in packaging, décor materials, and electronics solutions. Their diverse product portfolio includes innovative printing technologies and materials, serving various industrial and consumer needs with a focus on quality and cutting-edge solutions.

Founded in 1965 and located in Montreal, Canada, Quebecor Inc operates a wide range of commercial printing plants and shops in over 15 countries. The company’s extensive product offerings include various printing services, leveraging its global presence to meet diverse client needs and expand its market reach.

Other commercial printing companies are Transcontinental Inc., R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, The Vomela Companies, RAKSUL INC., Elanders AB, and Quad/Graphics, Inc., among others.

Recent Developments

April 2023

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. and SCIVAX Co., Ltd. agreed to a capital and operational alliance aiming at the mass production of nanoimprinted products by fully utilizing each company's nanoimprinting technology to develop its capability and extend production for advanced high-precision uses.

March 2023

Acme Rolltech, Ahmedabad had participated in the Pamex show held in Mumbai and presented ACE-Advanced Channel Engraving technology. This most modern technology presents a strong advantage across several industry segments like labels, offset printing applications, coating applications, and corrugation as a showcase for their commitment to development and advancement of print technology and efficiency.