The global print marketplace is changing rapidly with shifts in consumer, retailer and client demands. Increasing demand for more variation and lower run lengths is driving advances in flexographic technology, aimed at improving efficiency within an increasingly digitalised market.
The main focus of this report is to provide an insight into key product markets that are part of the flexographic print process and future evolutions. It will assist in the decision-making process of companies considering potential new investment and expansion, and those that may be interested in adding a flexographic print process to their services portfolio.
The flexographic printing market is estimated to be worth $185 billion at current prices in 2021. The market can expect a growth rate of 2.1% from 2021 to 2027, with the market totalling $205 billion by 2027. Globally, the largest market for flexo printing in 2022 is corrugated packaging, which will remain the largest segment to 2027.
Our exclusive content:
- Comprehensive data set covering all major end-use applications, national and regional markets, as well as current and future demand for flexographic equipment and consumables
- In-depth analysis of the key market drivers and trends that are changing the shape of the flexographic printing industry
- How the flexographic printing market is managing shift in demand and the digital challenge.
What will you discover?
- The challenge for print suppliers to implement advances in flexographic technology as digital continues to exert market pressure
- The consumer and retail trends driving demand for shorter, more customised manufacturing runs in consumer goods and packaging
- The impact on the printing industry of changes to sustainability measures and how flexographic printing is adapting accordingly
- The impact of automation on the world of flexographic printing.
The Smithers Methodology
This report is based on extensive primary and secondary research. Primary research consisted of targeted interviews with materials suppliers, converters and experts drawn from key markets. This was supported by secondary research in the form of extensive literature analysis of published data, official government statistics, domestic and international trade organisation data, company websites, industry reports, trade press articles, presentations, and attendance at trade events.
Who should buy this report?
- Materials suppliers
- Manufacturers of flexographic press, and pre-press equipment
- Suppliers of flexographic printing inks, plates and sleeves
- Flexographic press operators
- Packaging converters and printers
- Consultants and analysts
About the author
David Zwang has helped companies increase their productivity, margins and market reach for over 40 years. He specialises in process analysis, automation, engineering and strategic development of firms in the fields of publishing and packaging across the globe. His expertise in production optimisation, strategic business planning and market analysis has transformed many businesses. He is currently the Chairman of the GWG and sits on the bodies of many national and international standards.
Table of Contents
Executive summary
Introduction & methodology
- Report scope
- Report objective
- Research process
- Methodology
- List of definitions
Key drivers and trends
- Introduction
- World economic outlook
- Demographic trends
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
- Market penetration of water wash plates - environmental savings
- Inks and consumables
Flexo print - managing the digital challenge
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
- 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
- Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- Other Asia
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Other Latin America
- Eastern Europe
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
- Middle East
- Africa
- Australasia
Tables
- Summary timeline of flexo developments, 2017-27
- GDP growth trends, 2017-27 (real growth, %)
- Population trends, 2017-27 (millions)
- New flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million; units)
- New flexo equipment market by press type ($ million)
- Narrow-web flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Narrow-web flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Wide-web flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Sheetfed (incl. folders/gluers) flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Special/other flexographic printing equipment sales by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Flexographic printing ink sales by region, 2017-27 (tonnes; $ million)
- Flexographic package/label printing ink sales by region, 2017-27 (tonnes)
- Flexographic graphic printing ink sales by region, 2017-27 (tonnes)
- Flexographic printing plate sales by geographic market, 2017-27 ('000m2; $ million)
- Flexographic printing sleeve sales by geographic market, 2017-27 ('000 m2; $ million)
- Flexographic printing output by enduse market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Corrugated packaging: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Flexible packaging: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Bags & sacks: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017- 27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Labels: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Cartons: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Newspapers: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017- 27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Envelopes: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Sanitary/kitchenware: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Other products: flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017- 27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Flexographic printing output by geographic market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Western Europe: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Western Europe: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Western Europe: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 (units)
- Western Europe: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2017-27 (units)
- Western Europe: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2017-27 (tonnes; $ million)
- Western Europe: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2017-27 ('000 m2; $ million)
- France: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Germany: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Italy: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Spain: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- UK: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Other Western Europe: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- North America: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- North America: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 ($ million)
- North America: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 (units)
- North America: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2017-27 (units)
- North America: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2017-27 (tonnes; $ million)
- North America: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2017-27 ('000 m2; $ million)
- Canada: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- US: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Asia: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Asia: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Asia: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 (units)
- Asia: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2017-27 (units)
- Asia: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2017-27 (tonnes; $ million)
- Asia: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2017-27 ('000 m2; $ million)
- China: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- India: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Japan: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Other Asia: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Latin America: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Latin America: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Latin America: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 (units)
- Latin America: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2017-27 (units)
- Latin America: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2017-27 (tonnes; $ million)
- Latin America: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2017-27 ('000 m2; $ million)
- Brazil: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Mexico: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Other Latin America: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Eastern Europe: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Eastern Europe: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Eastern Europe: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 (units)
- Eastern Europe: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2017-27 (units)
- Eastern Europe: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2017-27 (tonnes; $ million)
- Eastern Europe: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2017-27 ('000 m2; $ million)
- Poland: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Russia: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Other Eastern Europe: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Middle East: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Middle East: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Middle East: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 (units)
- Middle East: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2017-27 (units)
- Middle East: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2017-27 (tonnes; $ million)
- Middle East: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2017-27 ('000 m2; $ million)
- Turkey: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Other Middle East: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Africa: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Africa: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Africa: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 (units)
- Africa: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2017-27 (units)
- Africa: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2017-27 (tonnes; $ million)
- Africa: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2017-27 ('000 m2; $ million)
- Australasia: flexographic printing output by end-use market, 2017-27 ($ million; billion A4 prints)
- Australasia: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Australasia: new flexographic printing equipment sales, 2017-27 (units)
- Australasia: flexographic printing equipment installed base, 2017-27 (units)
- Australasia: flexographic printing ink consumption, 2017-27 (tonnes; $ million)
- Australasia: flexographic printing plate and ITR sleeve sales, 2017-27 ('000 m2; $ million)
Figures
- Global flexographic printing output by print product, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Flexographic printing output by region, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Global flexographic printing equipment sales by region, 2017-27 ($ million)
- Global new flexographic printing equipment installations by press type, 2017-27 (units)
- Global flexographic printing ink sales by region, 2017-27 (tonnes)
- Global flexographic printing plate sales by region, 2017-27 (million m2)
- Global flexographic printing sleeve sales by region, 2017-27 (million m2)