Global Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Size, Share, and Trends Analysis Report – Industry Overview and Forecast to 2031

Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Analysis

The liquid waterborne printing inks market is experiencing substantial growth, driven by an increasing focus on environmental sustainability and regulatory pressures. These inks, which use water as the primary solvent, are gaining popularity due to their lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional solvent-based inks. The market is buoyed by rising demand across various sectors, particularly in packaging, where waterborne inks are preferred for their compatibility with a range of substrates like paper, cardboard, and some plastics.

Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Size

The global liquid waterborne printing inks market size was valued at USD 4.38 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 6.72 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2031. In addition to the insights on market scenarios such as market value, growth rate, segmentation, geographical coverage, and major players, the market reports curated by the Data Bridge Market Research also include in-depth expert analysis, geographically represented company-wise production and capacity, network layouts of distributors and partners, detailed and updated price trend analysis and deficit analysis of supply chain and demand.

Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Trends

“Demand for Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Products”

The increasing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable products is significantly driving the adoption of waterborne inks in the market. As environmental concerns gain prominence, consumers and businesses alike are prioritizing products that minimize environmental impact. Waterborne inks, which are formulated with water as a primary solvent rather than harmful organic solvents, are perceived as a more sustainable option compared to traditional solvent-based inks.

These inks typically have lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, contributing to reduced air pollution and a healthier work environment. This trend is not only driven by consumer preferences but also by regulatory pressures and corporate sustainability goals. Companies that adopt waterborne inks can enhance their environmental credentials, appeal to eco-conscious customers, and comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. As a result, the market for waterborne inks is experiencing robust growth, fueled by the broader shift towards greener and more sustainable printing solutions.

Report Scope and Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Segmentation         

Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Definition

Liquid waterborne printing inks are a type of ink used in printing processes where water serves as the primary solvent. These inks are formulated with water as the carrier for pigments or dyes, which are suspended in the liquid medium. Waterborne inks are designed to provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional solvent-based inks.

Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Dynamics

Drivers

• Increased Demand for Waterborne Inks in Packaging Industry

The rising packaging industry, particularly within the food and beverage sectors, significantly contributes to the increased demand for waterborne inks. These inks are well-suited for a variety of packaging materials, including paper, cardboard, and flexible films, which are commonly used in these industries. Waterborne inks offer several advantages, such as lower environmental impact and improved safety for food packaging, making them a preferred choice for manufacturers aiming to meet consumer expectations and regulatory requirements. As the packaging industry continues to expand, driven by growth in consumer goods and e-commerce, the demand for waterborne inks is expected to rise correspondingly, supporting the overall market growth.           

• Stricter Environmental Regulations on VOC Emissions   

Stringent environmental regulations play a crucial role in driving the adoption of waterborne inks. Waterborne inks are formulated with significantly lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are known to contribute to air pollution and have adverse health effects. Regulatory bodies across various regions have imposed stricter limits on VOC emissions to mitigate environmental impact and promote healthier workplaces. As a result, businesses are increasingly turning to waterborne inks to comply with these regulations, which not only helps them avoid potential fines but also aligns with global sustainability goals and enhances their corporate responsibility image.

Opportunities

• Increasing Consumer Awareness about Environmental Issues      

With consumers becoming more informed about the environmental impacts of products they purchase, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable options. Waterborne inks, which are perceived as less harmful to the environment compared to traditional solvent-based inks, align with these consumer preferences. By highlighting the environmental benefits of waterborne inks, companies can attract environmentally conscious consumers and differentiate themselves in a competitive market. This shift in consumer behavior provides a strategic advantage for companies adopting and promoting waterborne inks.     

• Technological Advancements in Waterborne Ink Formulations    

Technological advancements in waterborne ink formulations and technologies are fueling market growth by enhancing their performance and applicability. Innovations such as improved drying mechanisms, better adhesion properties, and greater color vibrancy have addressed some of the previous limitations of waterborne inks. These advancements make waterborne inks more versatile and effective across a range of applications, including complex packaging and high-quality printing jobs. As technology continues to evolve, it is expected to create market opportunities in the waterborne inks market, expanding their use and increasing their market share in the printing industry.

Restraints/Challenges

• Higher Cost of Waterborne Inks

One of the challenges facing the adoption of waterborne inks is their higher cost compared to traditional solvent-based inks. The production and formulation of waterborne inks often involve more expensive raw materials and advanced technologies, which can result in higher prices. For cost-sensitive businesses, particularly smaller enterprises or those with tight budgets, this higher cost can be a significant barrier to adoption. 

• Waterborne Inks’ Performance Limitations

Waterborne inks may encounter performance limitations that can impact their adoption. Compared to other types of inks, waterborne inks can exhibit reduced color vibrancy, weaker adhesion, and longer drying times. These performance issues can affect the quality and efficiency of printing processes, particularly in high-speed or high-quality applications. As a result, some industries may opt for alternative inks that offer superior performance characteristics. 

This market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import-export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on the market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

Impact and Current Market Scenario of Raw Material Shortage and Shipping Delays

Data Bridge Market Research offers a high-level analysis of the market and delivers information by keeping in account the impact and current market environment of raw material shortage and shipping delays. This translates into assessing strategic possibilities, creating effective action plans, and assisting businesses in making important decisions. Apart from the standard report, we also offer in-depth analysis of the procurement level from forecasted shipping delays, distributor mapping by region, commodity analysis, production analysis, price mapping trends, sourcing, category performance analysis, supply chain risk management solutions, advanced benchmarking, and other services for procurement and strategic support.

Expected Impact of Economic Slowdown on the Pricing and Availability of Products

When economic activity slows, industries begin to suffer. The forecasted effects of the economic downturn on the pricing and accessibility of the products are taken into account in the market insight reports and intelligence services provided by DBMR. With this, our clients can typically keep one step ahead of their competitors, project their sales and revenue, and estimate their profit and loss expenditures.

Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Scope

The market is segmented on the basis of type, substrate, and application. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyse meagre growth segments in the industries and provide the users with a valuable market overview and market insights to help them make strategic decisions for identifying core market applications.

Type

• Flexography Inks 
• Gravure Ink

Substrate

• Films 
• Paper and Paperboard

Application

• Industrial
• Construction
• Manufacturing

Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Regional Analysis

The market is analysed and market size insights and trends are provided by country, type, substrate, and application as referenced above.

The countries covered in the market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

North America is expected to dominate the liquid waterborne printing inks market due to the presence of major key players and advancements in technological developments related to printing inks. The region's growth is supported by the rapid pace of innovation and the concentration of industry leaders, which bolster the market's expansion.   

Asia-Pacific is expected to show significant growth in the liquid waterborne printing inks market due to the robust development of the packaging industry within the region. Additionally, the ease of resin availability is anticipated to further stimulate market growth. The region's thriving packaging sector and favorable resin supply conditions contribute to its lucrative market prospects.

The country section of the report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points like down-stream and upstream value chain analysis, technical trends and porter's five forces analysis, case studies are some of the pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, the presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.   

Global Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market Share

The market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies' focus related to market.

Some of the major players operating in the market are:

• DIC CORPORATION (Japan)
• Flint Group (Luxembourg)
• TOYO INK SC HOLDINGS CO., LTD. (Japan)
• Sakata Inx (India) Private Limited (India)
• Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA (Germany)
• Hubergroup India Private Limited (India)
• T&K TOKA Corporation (Japan)
• Altana (Germany)
• TOKYO PRINTING INK MFG CO., LTD. (Japan)
• Wikoff Color Corporation (U.S.)
• Royal Dutch Printing Ink Factories Van Son (Netherlands)
• Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Japan)
• Zeller+Gmelin (Germany)
• Sun Chemical (U.S.)
• Alden & Ott Printing Inks Co (U.S.)
• Gardiner Colours Limited (U.K.)
• MALLARD INK CO AND OFFSET BLANKET CO., INC. (U.S.)
• INX International Ink Co. (U.S.)
• INKNOVATORS (India)
• Avreon Chemicals India Private Limited (India)

Latest Developments in Liquid Waterborne Printing Inks Market

• In May 2024, Marabu is raising the bar in decorative inkjet printing on glass with its new high-performance digital printing ink, UltraJet DUV-CP. This innovative technology delivers superior print quality at twice the speed of previous models while reducing overall ink consumption. The UltraJet DUV-CP allows for the creation of unique effects on glass, plastic, and metal containers with ink film thicknesses of up to 3 mm   
• In June 2021, Siegwerk, a leading global provider of printing inks and coatings for packaging and labels, introduced UniNATURE, a new generation of sustainable water-based inks for paper and board applications. This innovative product line is made from renewable and natural components, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional inks. UniNATURE enhances the recyclability of paper and board packaging while contributing to a reduction in microplastics found in inks

SKU-67809